USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantom Philes: Final Week Features

Published on March 29, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - These are the Phantom Philes, a weekly comprehensive look at Youngstown's stop on the road to the National Hockey League.

The final road contest of the schedule and a two-game home weekend awaits the Youngstown Phantoms in the last week of their first regular season in the United States Hockey League.

After splitting a home-and-home series with the U.S. National Team's Under-17 squad last weekend, the Phantoms (18-35-4, 40 points) continue their final pass through the East Division with three games in four nights. The season-ending stretch begins Wednesday night in the Chicago suburb of Bensenville, as Youngstown will face off with the Steel (23-28-6, 52 points) for the first time since Dec. 5.

It's fitting the Phantoms will make their final excursion to Chicago, since their first-ever preseason game and win both occurred at the Edge Ice Arena on Sept. 10 and 11, respectively. Of course, Youngstown's first regular season road trip included a visit to the Second City, where the Phantoms surged to a 5-3 win Oct. 11 on the strength of a three-goal third period.

The Phantoms also earned their only other third-period comeback against the Steel, as Andrew Lamont and Nick Czinder each tallied to erase a 6-4 deficit, setting up overtime and Tom Serratore's sudden-death clincher Nov. 14 at Covelli Centre.

In addition, Youngstown claimed a two-game sweep of Chicago Dec. 4-5, pushing its advantage in the regular season series to 4-0. That particular weekend marked the last time the Phantoms won back-to-back games; after stomping the Steel by scores of 6-4 and 3-1, the first-year expansion club improved to 10-8-2.

Perhaps another showdown with Chicago will call to mind positive memories and trigger a successful final week, which will conclude with a pair versus Cedar Rapids (36-28-3, 75 points) inside the friendly walls of Covelli Centre.

Whereas the Phantoms will gun for the season sweep against Chicago, Cedar Rapids will be attempting to turn the same trick on Youngstown, as the second-place RoughRiders have held serve at home three times in the series.

While revenge will be on the players' minds, baseball will be the off-ice theme Friday night, as the Phantoms welcome hardball enthusiasts to help ring in the outdoor sports season. Local youth baseball teams can purchase group tickets for just $5 each! Call the Phantoms' Front Office at (330)747-7825 for additional information.

Saturday will be Fan Appreciation Night; read below for details on how the Phantoms will celebrate the first season of exciting USHL hockey in Youngstown!

PHANTOMS GAMES THIS WEEK:

Wednesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. @ CHICAGO

Friday, April 2 at 7:15 p.m. vs. CEDAR RAPIDS / Bargain Beers & Baseball - Enjoy $1 brews all night long as the Purple and Orange host the RoughRiders for the first time ever! Also, the Phantoms celebrate baseball's opening weekend with mascot Scrappy of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and former Cleveland Indians pitcher Jason Stanford. Enter to win baseball-themed prizes!

Saturday, April 3 at 7:15 p.m. vs. CEDAR RAPIDS / Fan Appreciation Night - Join the Phantoms for the season's final game as the organization gratefully thanks you for your loyal support. Game-worn jerseys will be auctioned, great promotional items will be given away and area youth hockey teams will be honored on the season's ultimate night!

FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG!

Listen to Voice of the PhantomsMatt Gajtka describe exciting Phantoms hockey on Youngstown's ESPN 1240. Broadcasts begin approximately 15 minutes prior to opening faceoff. Phantoms fans outside the listening area can log onto www.wbbw.com and use ESPN 1240's streaming audio player, so there's no need to miss a second of the action.

Also, make "Youngstown Phantoms" your friend on Facebook and follow "ytownphantoms" on Twitter to stay plugged into the Phantoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

THE WEEK THAT WAS:

Friday, March 26: YOUNGSTOWN 3, TEAM USA 2

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Working hard and waiting patiently for their chances, the Youngstown Phantoms were rewarded three times Friday night at the Ice Cube, overcoming an early hiccup to claim a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the U.S. National Team.

Adam Berkle and Andrew Lamont scored 2:20 apart midway through the third period to break a 1-1 tie, with both goals resulting from Team USA turnovers. Berkle whipped a wrister from the slot past goalie Matt McNeely's glove hand, then Lamont sniped one into the top shelf from below the left circle to raise the lead to two.

National Team defenseman Kevin Clare drew the home side back within one with just 1:18 to play, but the Phantoms rallied around netminder Jordan Tibbett, who made 32 saves, to preserve the victory. Youngstown is now 3-1-0 against the Under-17 squad and has earned points in four of seven games in the month of March (2-3-2).

The Phantoms (18-34-4, 40 points) had gone down 1-0 just 19 seconds after the opening faceoff, as Travis Boyd cut to the middle and stuck a shot into the top-right corner of the net. But for the second-straight game, Youngstown successfully battled back after surrendering an opening-minute tally.

A lack of discipline from Team USA (24-29-4, 52 points) opened the door for the Phantoms' equalizer. Michael Paliotta took a roughing penalty at 12:43 of the second, tossing Youngstown's Ty Loney to the ice after a collision.

Tom Serratore made that indiscretion loom large when he blasted a slapper from the left point that found its way behind McNeely with under six minutes remaining in the frame. Jefferson Dahl and Berkle, who provided the screen in front, picked up assists on the play.

Youngstown outpaced the Nationals 6-1 in power plays, including the last five in a row. The game represented a role reversal from the Phantoms' previous contests in Ann Arbor this season, when they were forced to kill 33 Team USA power plays in three games.

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1049156 for full box score.

Saturday, March 27: TEAM USA 6, YOUNGSTOWN 2

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Austin Wuthrich, Cole Bardreau and Dan Carlson each tallied a goal and an assist as the U.S. National Team converted an early lead into a 6-2 victory against the Youngstown Phantoms Saturday night at Covelli Centre, splitting the two-game home-and-home series.

The Phantoms (18-35-4, 40 points), who claimed a convincing win over Team USA's Under-17 squad Friday night in Ann Arbor, Mich., fell behind from the start and dropped out of contention when the Red, White & Blue put together a three-goal third period. Twice Youngstown cut the deficit to a single goal, but the Phantoms would get no closer.

The National Team (25-29-4, 54 points) scored first Friday night as well, but withered as the game went along as the Phantoms earned six power plays. The roles were reversed Saturday as Team USA enjoyed nine advantages, including three separate 5-on-3 power plays.

Youngstown outshot its opponent for the first time since Feb. 13, a span of 14 games, but Team USA goalie John Gibson scooped up his third win of the season against the Phantoms by stopping 26 of 28 shots. Jordan Tibbett, making his third straight start in the Youngstown cage, was hardly to blame - the USHL veteran was often in desperation mode.

With the Phantoms on an early power play, Tibbett made a sharp first save on Wuthrich's shorthanded chance, but Bardreau followed to stash the rebound around the sprawling netminder to break the ice at 3:39 of the first.

Defenseman Alexx Privatera increased the lead to two with a hard one-timer from 40 feet that sizzled high into the net at 10:18 during a two-man Team USA advantage. While the National Team continued to skate with a 5-on-4 power play, Gibson handled a routine play behind his net.

Or at least it should have been routine. The Pittsburgh-born goalie turned the puck over to the Phantoms' Jefferson Dahl, who expertly deposited the gift for his fourth shorthanded goal of the season and 16th overall, both team highs. The converted mistake cut the lead in half at 11:26.

Reid Boucher restored the two-goal National Team cushion when he lifted his 10th into the twine to finish a scrambling play in the low slot with 4:37 remaining in the middle frame.

Once again, the Phantoms had a quick response in store.

Just one second after a Youngstown power play expired, Dylan Margonari deflected Andrej Sustr's point shot through Gibson's legs for his third in 20 USHL games. The former Pittsburgh Hornet's tally brought the Phantoms back within striking distance for the decisive third.

But Team USA quickly squelched any comeback hopes with two even-strength goals less than two minutes apart, with Carlson (3:56) and Travis Boyd (5:53) beating a helpless Tibbett from in close on sudden plays. The lead became 6-2 when Wuthrich hammered a slapper from the right circle off Bardreau's assist during a transition effort.

Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid1049165 for full box score.

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2010


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