Cedar Rapids Downs Youngstown 3-1 to Avoid Sweep
February 25, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown Phantoms' Jake Rozzi and Matthew Perkins on game night
(Youngstown Phantoms, Credit: Scott Galvin Photography)
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - Two second period goals for the visitors turned a 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit for the Youngstown Phantoms (25-14-4-1, 55 points), but unlike the night before the Phantoms had no late-game magic as they fell 3-1 to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Saturday night at the Covelli Centre. The loss snapped both the four-game winning streak and the seven-game point streaks that Youngstown had been riding entering the night.
"I think Cedar Rapids played a really desperate hockey game. It was maybe the ugliest hockey game I've seen all year," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "I think 3-in-3 caught up to both teams, it caught up to us for sure. (Cedar Rapids) played a good game. Credit to them, it's tough to beat a team three times in a row in three days."
Youngstown took a 1-0 lead shortly after the midway point of the first period. Jake Rozzi stole a Cedar Rapids clearing pass and walked from the left corner towards the net. As the defense came to Rozzi, he slid a pass to Matthew Perkins in the slot, and Perkins' one-timer from the hashmarks beat Bruno Bruveris (20 saves), putting the Phantoms in front at 12:03 on Perkins' 12th goal of the season.
Cedar Rapids tied the game at 13:38 of the second when Jacob Kraft's wrister from the top of the right circle found its way past Jacob Fowler (23 saves). The RoughRiders grabbed the lead just over three minutes later at 16:52 when Riley Bassen spun a backhander from a sharp angle into the crease that hit Fowler's right pad and ricocheted through his five hole into the net.
The Phantoms pushed hard in the third period looking for the equalizer and almost tied it late when Perkins rang one off the post, but a late penalty call put Youngstown down a man and allowed Ryan O'Connell to score on the empty net with 4.2 seconds remaining to seal the victory for Cedar Rapids. The empty net goal broke the Youngstown penalty kill's run of killing off 36 straight penalties.
Youngstown will take to the road for a two-game trip next weekend in Michigan against the U17's before returning to the Covelli Centre for a three-in-three against the Green Bay Gamblers, a series which starts with the School Day Game on Wednesday March 8.
By the Numbers
Shots - 21
Saves - 23
Power Play - 0/4
Penalty Kill - 4/5
Goals - Perkins
Assists - Rozzi
Images from this story
 Youngstown Phantoms' Jake Rozzi and Matthew Perkins on game night (Scott Galvin Photography) |
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