Bartus Leads Phantoms to Victory
Published on March 22, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio - With the help of 43 saves from goaltender Garrett Bartus, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms hung on to win a 3-2 decision over the Alpena Ice Diggers on Saturday night in front of nearly 900 fans at the Ice Zone.
The win was the Phantoms (34-18-4, 72 points) fourth in the last five games, and helped Mahoning Valley earn a split against the very same team they will be facing in a first round, best-of-five playoff series beginning the first weekend of April.
After a tight-checking start to the game, fan-favorite Johnny Meo got things started, tallying his 15th goal of the season, shorthanded, with just 1:31 left in the opening period to give Mahoning Valley a 1-0 lead.
Meo's goal would stand through a scoreless second period, but only held up for 3:02 of the third frame. Alpena's Nick Grasso buried a turn-around slap shot from the slot behind Bartus. The goal was his sixth of the season and tied the game at 1-1.
The Phantoms answered just 1:17 later when Nick Kenney took a pass from Miles Winter and fired home his eighth of the season. Chad Boeckman picked up an assist as well - he has now had one helper in each of his last five games.
Former Ice Digger, Carl Nielsen, appeared to seal the deal with a 180-foot shot into an empty that pushed the Phantoms lead to two with just 1:01 left in regulation.
Alpena (30-23-5, 65 points) made the final seconds interesting, however, when Isaac Viau connected on his 21st tally of the season with 41 seconds left in the third to make it 3-2. But, Bartus shut the door from there, making five saves in the final minute of the game to secure his 22nd win of the season.
The teams combined to go 0 for 9 on the powerplay.
Next up, the second place Phantoms will host the fourth place U.S. National Team (28-24-4, 60 points) on Friday night at 7:15 p.m. in the first of two games on the weekend. The games will be the final contests of the regular season for both teams.
Catch all Phantoms hockey broadcast live on the web at 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 March 22, 2008
- U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Completes Sweep of Marquette - U.S. National Team
- Bartus Leads Phantoms to Victory - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Jets Come From Behind on Harrison's Winner, 2-1 - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Bandits burgle Stars - Traverse City North Stars
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