Clifford's OT Winner Lifts Phantoms
Published on October 17, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ALPENA, MI - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms held off a furious comeback by the Alpena IceDiggers and pulled out a 4-3 overtime victory over their North Division rivals.
Doug Clifford scored twice, with his biggest tally coming 2:32 into the overtime period, slamming a rebound home after Brandon Saad drew split the Alpena defense and put a shot in on IceDiggers goaltender Nick Graves.
"Saad is a great player," said Clifford, "and I knew he was going to get it through so I went hard to the net. He made an incredible move and the puck was right there for me."
Alpena forced the overtime period after erasing a three-goal Phantom lead in the second, scoring three straight power play goals to tie the game at three just 1:19 into the third. The first Alpena goal halted the Phantoms' streak of consecutive penalties killed at 39.
The Phantoms, however, regained their composure in the final frame after the equalizer. Phantoms assistant coach Curtis Carr said that the team's veteran leadership helped to right the ship in the late-goings.
"Our veteran players really came through in the third," said Carr. "We used the second intermission to steady the nerves and then the leadership showed through. We stayed calm and didn't worry about the referees or after-the-whistle business and it helped us turn the tide."
Clifford's first goal came on the power play in the second when John Houston found him wide open on the back door for an easy marker. Jordy Trottier notched his team-leading fifth goal on the power play in the first.
In his first game as a Phantom, Ryan Finnegan turned at turnover by Alpena's Graves into a 2-0 lead with 16:14 left in the second.
Jordan Tibbett turned aside 33 Alpena shots for his fourth win of the year.
The Phantoms wrap up their two-game set in Alpena on Saturday night with a 7:00 P.M. puck drop.
Season tickets and individual tickets are now on sale for Phantoms home games; call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2008
- Stars win sixth straight - Traverse City North Stars
- Clifford's OT Winner Lifts Phantoms - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Blanks Marquette, 4-0 - U.S. National Team
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