USHL Youngstown Phantoms

RoughRiders prevail in Phantoms' season finale

Published on April 3, 2010 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - In a game marked by a plethora of penalties, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders used a three-goal second period to sprint past the Youngstown Phantoms 4-1 in the two teams' regular-season finale Saturday night at Covelli Centre.

The two sides combined for 19 power plays in the contest, but it was playoff-bound Cedar Rapids (38-19-3, 77 points) that took advantage first, netting a pair of man-advantage goals 14 seconds apart to grab a 3-0 lead in the latter stages of the second period.

Ty Loney punched in his second goal in three games at the end of a Youngstown power play to draw the Phantoms (20-36-4, 44 points) within two heading for the third, but the RoughRiders would allow them no closer. Goaltender Jordan Tibbett, starting for the ninth time in the Phantoms' last 13 games, was sharp in defeat, stopping 43 shots. He had 19 saves in the third period for the second straight night.

Bryce Aneloski's empty-net goal in the final minute iced the victory for Cedar Rapids, which snapped a three-game road losing streak heading into the USHL postseason. The RoughRiders, No. 2 seed in the East Division, will square off with third-place Indiana in the first round beginning Wednesday.

Youngstown finished the season 4-4-2 after Mar. 6, a significant improvement from the first two months of the year - when the Phantoms won just three times in 22 tries. Jefferson Dahl led the first-year expansion club with 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists), while Tom Serratore and Adam Berkle each fired in 17 goals, tying for team-best in that category.

The early story Saturday was defense, as both Tibbett and Cedar Rapids' Troy Grosenick kept the game scoreless through one period. The tug-of-war continued until 8:10 of the middle frame, when Derek DeBlois, who earned two assists on the night, connected with Michael Parks to the left of the net for an open one-timer and a 1-0 ‘Riders advantage.

Parks' 11th of the campaign came just moments after the visitors had killed an extended Phantoms two-man advantage, and Cedar Rapids soon enjoyed its own 5-on-3 power play just past the period's midway point. Defenseman Andy Simpson took advantage of the situation, blasting a slap shot off the skate of Youngstown's Stuart Higgins and past Tibbett at 12:18.

Less than 20 seconds later, RoughRiders leading scorer Zach Lehrke found Mac Bennett at the bottom of the right circle for a quick shot and a three-goal advantage. Lehrke corralled a bouncing puck at the Phantoms' blue line and moved in with Bennett in an abbreviated 2-on-1 rush.

Loney's second tally in 17 USHL games was a beauty, as the rookie from nearby Valencia, Pa. popped Dylan Margonari's centering pass from below the goal line over Grosenick's glove hand. Nick Czinder, with seven points in his last eight games, picked up the secondary assist.

The Phantoms had three power plays in the third, but couldn't slip a second goal past Grosenick, who finished with 21 saves and his 26th win of the season.

Thanks for supporting the Phantoms this season! See you in the fall for more Phantoms hockey.

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United States Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2010


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