Bandits Bash Phantoms; Win Series Opener 5-1
February 23, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (Saturday, February 23, 2008) - In a battle of one versus two, the first place St. Louis Bandits proved why they are the top team in the North American Hockey League, dismantling the Mahoning Valley Phantoms 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Hardee's Iceplex.
Ben Miller, Nick Condon and David Makowski each tallied three helpers, while Bandits goaltender Cal Heeter turned aside 28 of 29 Phantoms shots to lead the Bandits (38-8-2, 78 points) to their fifth win in seven games this season against Mahoning Valley.
Although the Bandits established the momentum early, it took over 16 minutes before Tom Brooks got things started, putting St. Louis up 1-0. Brooks took a pass from Miller and backhanded his eighth of the year behind Phantoms goaltender Garrett Bartus.
Kyle O'Kane followed less than two minutes later, picking up a loose puck on the doorstep and tapping home his 35th of the year to put St. Louis up 2-0 heading into the first intermission.
The Phantoms (27-15-4, 58 points) fell behind 4-0 for the second straight game after the Bandits' Grant Gorczyca and Mike Leone - on the powerplay, cashed in just 53 seconds apart in the middle of second period.
With 4:14 left in the middle frame, Carl Nielsen scored his first goal in a Phantoms uniform, weaving a shot through traffic and between the legs of Bandits' goaltender Cal Heeter, to get the Phantoms on the board.
Bandits leading scorer Ben Warda then put the icing on the cake, notching his 22nd of the year midway through the final period.
Bartus stopped 32 of 37 Bandits shots, while falling to 18-8-3 on the year. Mahoning Valley was 0 for 3 on the powerplay.
The same two teams meet again on Sunday at the St. Peters RecPlex. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. Catch all the action webcast live on www.mvpphantoms.com.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2008
- U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Skates to 5-2 Victory at Robert Morris - U.S. National Team
- Patterson Scores Five as Jr. Blues Jazz Way to 7-0 win - North Iowa Outlaws
- Stars repeat sweep with shootout win - Traverse City North Stars
- U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Rebounds With 2-1 Victory Over Marquette - U.S. National Team
- Jets Can't Climb Out of Early Hole, 4-3 - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Bandits Bash Phantoms; Win Series Opener 5-1 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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