USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Face Road Test this Weekend in Lincoln, Dubuque

Published on February 23, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


LINCOLN, Neb. - The Youngstown Phantoms hope to continue their recent string of success away from the Covelli Centre this weekend in corn country. The Phantoms (25-14-4, fourth East) carry a four-game road winning streak out west them, where they will take on a pair United States Hockey League's best, facing off against the Lincoln Stars on Friday and the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Saturday.

The puck drops at 8:05 p.m. EST both nights.

Although the Phantoms have yet to face the Stars (25-14-3, second West) in the regular season, the two did meet during the preseason Fall Classic in Sioux City, Iowa, which ended in a 6-4 victory for Lincoln. It was a physical grind of a game, punctuated by a pair of heavyweight bouts that saw both Mike Gunn and Pat Conte drop the gloves for the Phantoms as the teams combined for 34 penalty minutes in the first period alone.

Fast-forward to the present, and Lincoln and Youngstown are the second and third most penalized teams respectively in the entire USHL. And Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen said he expects another hard-hitting tilt on Friday.

"It'll be a physical game, for sure. That's their M.O.," he said. "Lincoln's a big, tough team and they play a pro-style game. But it's not something we want to back down from. We consider ourselves a pretty physical team, too."

But the Stars are hardly a one-dimensional team either, and forward Kevin Roy, the USHL's leading scorer with 38 goals and 70 points, provides a dynamic offensive boost to their lineup. Phantoms center Dylan Margonari, who himself enters the weekend on a six-game point streak, said they would have to account for Roy's speed, skill and scoring prowess, but couldn't be completely preoccupied with the Lac Beauport, Quebec, native on Friday.

"My line, we'll just prepare like it's going to be another normal game," he said. "We know that we're going to be playing against a top prospect player, so we just need to get the mindset to play defense first. Then when we get the puck on our stick, we need to transition and hopefully keep them hemmed in our offensive zone."

On Saturday the Phantoms will be looking for their third straight win - and fourth of the season - over the Fighting Saints (27-13-3, T-second East). The defending Clark Cup champions enter the weekend with wins in three straight games and five of their last six, but are just three points ahead of the Phantoms in the Eastern Conference standings.

"Standings aside - that's not really something we something we talk about or focus on too much - this is the defending Clark Cup champions," Noreen said. "Until someone knocks them off, that's theirs.

"They've got another one of the superstars of the league in Zemgus Girgensons, but he's got a great cast of players around him as well."

The Phantoms, however, have done an admirable job game planning for Girgensons, holding the projected first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft off the score sheet each time they have faced him this season. Noreen said that, although continuing to contain the skilled center will be key, it would be even more important to capitalize on chances in the offensive end, especially against a stingy Dubuque defense that has surrendered the second fewest goals (112) in the league.

"We know we're not going to get a ton of chances," Noreen said. "When we do get them, we're going to need to put them in the back of the net, because you don't know when your next is going to come."

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 23, 2012


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