Bettens' Hat Trick Lifts Youngstown over Madison 6-4

November 13, 2021 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release

YOUNGSTOWN, OH - A hat trick from Kyle Bettens helped lead the Youngstown Phantoms (6-6-0-2, 14 pts) to a 6-4 victory over the Madison Capitols (9-3-1-0) Friday night at the Covelli Centre.

"I felt our hunt and our determination was much better from the get-go," said Phantoms' head coach Brad Patterson.

Youngstown got their second power play of the night at 4:30 after Kyle Kukkonen got two minutes for high sticking. From the top of the right circle, Morgan Winters snapped a cross-ice feed to Adam Ingram, who sent a centering attempt to Jaden Grant. The Phantoms captain was right in front of the net and found an opening behind Marino Ramirez (24 saves). Grant snuck the puck past him for a power play goal at 4:52.

Youngstown cashed in on the power play again when Grant passed the puck from the right circle to Winters. Winters redirected the puck into the net for his first USHL goal at 17:31. Youngstown entered the first intermission with a 2-0 lead.

Madison dented the scoreboard for the first time inside the first minute of the second period. With Shane LaChance in the box, Nick DeSantis fired home a snapshot from the right circle just 24 seconds into the power play to bring the Capitols within one just 48 seconds into the period. The score stood at 2-1 for nearly 11 minutes before another puck found twine. A large amount of traffic in front of the net helped to distract Ramirez from seeing Chris Hedden's shot from the left point, and the puck was behind Ramirez before he even saw it. Hedden's goal was his first in the USHL, and it came at 11:40, giving Youngstown back their two-goal cushion at 3-1.

Two-and-a-half minutes later, Kukkonen blasted a one timer from the slot past Kyle Chauvette (28 saves) with 5:57 left in the second period to bring the Capitols back within one. Less than two minutes later, Bettens got his first goal of the night, fourth of the season when he blasted the puck into the net off a breakaway to give Youngstown the two-goal lead back. With less than a minute left in the period, Quinn Finley knocked in a rebound from in front of the net to make it a one goal game once more, 4-3 Youngstown at the end of the second period.

Youngstown was back on the penalty kill in the third period after Winter Wallace received a slashing penalty at 12:32. Finley tied the game after he redirected the puck in for his second goal of the night at 12:58. 31 seconds later, Bettens got the puck off of a cross-ice feed from Hedden. Bettens swooped towards the cage and blasted the puck the puck right into the twine for his second goal of the night to give Youngstown back the lead at 13:29.

The Capitols pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker with just 2:21 left in regulation. From his own end, Wallace picked up the puck off a bounce and blasted it towards the empty net. The puck hit the post but was grabbed by Bettens. Bettens snapped the puck into the yawning cage for his first USHL hat trick, solidifying Youngstown's 6-4 victory.

"He's been very good," said Phantoms' Head Coach Brad Patterson. "Kyle obviously has a great finish around the net and we need it."

The Phantoms are back in action Saturday night at the Covelli Centre as they look for the weekend sweep of the Madison Capitols. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05.

By the Numbers

Shots - 30

Saves - 28

Power Play - 2/3

Penalty Kill - 3/5

Goals - Bettens (3), Grant, Hedden, Winters

Assists - Alexander, Ingram (2), Catalano, Grant, Hedden, Isogai Schweighardt, Varner, Wallace, Winters

Box Score - https://www.ushl.com/view/#/game-summary/10143

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• Strong Start for the Lancers Enough to Take Down Sioux Falls on Military Appreciation Night - Omaha Lancers
• Bettens' Hat Trick Lifts Youngstown over Madison 6-4 - Youngstown Phantoms
• Adam Fantilli Nets Hat Trick in 6-3 Win over Dubuque - Chicago Steel
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