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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Chicago Outlasts Phantoms 2-1

December 2, 2016 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OH- Despite a very strong effort in a tight-checking battle, the Youngstown Phantoms (11-9-1-1, 24 points) fell to the Chicago Steel 2-1 on Friday night at the Covelli Centre, snapping the Phantoms four-game winning streak.

"It's tough to lose a game like that," said Phantoms Head Coach Brad Patterson. "I thought the guys for much of that game dictated the pace and dictated the play."

Youngstown got on the board first, scoring at 10:32 of the first period. The play started with Coale Norris taking a pass in his defensive end and carrying the puck through the neutral zone. Norris snapped a pass ahead to Alex Esposito who brought the puck into the Chicago end. Esposito pulled up just inside the blue line and fired it ahead to Nicolas Werbik. Werbik corralled the puck and let go a low wrist shot that beat Chicago goaltender Ales Stezka (25 saves) to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. The goal, Werbik's 10th of the season, was his fifth in his last six games.

Chicago tied it late in the first period when Jake Jaremko took a pass from Reggie Lutz and walked into the slot. Jaremko unleashed a wrist shot that beat Phantoms goaltender Ivan Kulbakov (16 saves) high to the glove side.

The Steel took the lead at 2:10 of the second period. Tyler Gratton took a backhand shot from the right circle that found its way behind Kulbakov for Gratton's second goal of the year. Youngstown had several excellent opportunities in the second period, but were unable to get anything past Stezka. "He was great," Patterson said of the opposing netminder. "When he needed to make big stops, he did it. There were multiple times that I thought for sure it was in. That's a huge credit to him, he played very, very well."

Chicago clamped down defensively in the third period, allowing only five shots on goal for the Phantoms. "I think they started to back off a little," said Patterson of Chicago's third period defense. "As the third period went, they really started to pack it in to their house, and I think they probably blocked as many shots as we had on net there in the third." Youngstown pulled Kulbakov with 1:42 remaining in regulation, but the Phantoms were not credited with a shot during that entire sequence as the Steel blocked everything Youngstown threw at the net to preserve their victory.

Youngstown returns to the ice Thurdsay morning at 10:00am to take on the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the annual School Day Game, with over 5,000 kids from the Mahoning Valley expected at the Covelli Centre. Broadcasts of the game will be available on HockeyTV and YPHR.

By the Numbers

Shots - 26

Saves - 16

Power Play - 0/3

Penalty Kill - 2/2

Goals - Werbik

Assists - A. Esposito, Norris

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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