USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Hope to Catch Fire with Pair of Games in Iowa

Published on February 2, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - By all accounts, the Youngstown Phantoms have had a renaissance season. But since the holiday break in late December, the team is looking for a spark to catch fire. The Phantoms (21-13-3, fourth East) put together three four-game winning streaks earlier in the season, but have won consecutive games just twice in the new year.

After a disappointing 3-1 loss Wednesday to the Chicago Steel snapped their most recent streak, the Phantoms will be eager to put back-to-back wins together again this weekend, but they will have to do so on the road in a pair of arenas where wins are hard to come by. The Phantoms face the Dubuque Fighting Saints Friday before heading west to take on the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Saturday. The puck drops at 8:05 p.m. EST both nights.

The Phantoms have never won in a combined eight visits to both the Mystique Ice Arena in Dubuque and The Stable in Cedar Rapids - a fact that Head Coach Anthony Noreen said he is well aware of.

"To get where we want to get this year, at some point we're going to have to go through these buildings and be successful," Noreen said. "Hopefully we can set ourselves up for that by proving we can do it this weekend."

The Phantoms trail the Fighting Saints (22-11-3, third East) by two points in the United States Hockey League Eastern Conference standings, but came away with a big win against the defending Clark Cup champions last Friday night on the back of goaltender Matthew O'Connor. The Boston University commit made 40 saves in a 3-2 win, but Noreen said his team cannot afford to let their goalie see so much rubber this time around.

"It's highly unlikely we can get another win against this team playing like that," he said. "They're good but they're going to be playing even better at home. We will flat-out need to be a lot better than we were last weekend when we beat them."

Before this year, Phantoms had yet to win a game - home or away - against the RoughRiders (15-13-8, sixth East). But this season, they have already captured a pair of wins and five points in three meetings with Cedar Rapids. All three games have gone to overtime with the Phantoms getting game-winning goals in the extra frame twice at the Covelli Centre before falling 2-1 in a shootout at The Stable on Dec. 28.

With that shootout win, the RoughRiders have won six of their last eight home games, and the Phantoms have been the only team to hold them to less than four goals in that span. Noreen said that it will be crucial for his team to limit the RoughRiders' quality scoring chances and keep the rowdy Cedar Rapids crowd out of the game if they want to come away with the franchise's first win.

"They're a team that's just starting to play some of their best hockey and we saw that right after the [holiday break]," he said. "It's going to be a hostile environment. We know it's going to be packed and things aren't always going to go our way.

"It's kind of going to be us against the world there. It's a good test for our guys."

Single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now. Season ticket and flex plans start at the low price of just $90. Call the Phantoms office today at 330.747.7825 for more information or to make a reservation today! For a complete Phantoms schedule, visit www.youngstownphantoms.com .

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2012


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