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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Connor Scores Twice But Phantoms Fall to Ice in OT

November 27, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Indiana Ice left the Youngstown Phantoms with little to be thankful for. The Phantoms lost two players to injuries in the second period and surrendered a pair of goals in the third and eventually fell 4-3 in overtime to the Eastern Conference foes.

Kyle Connor tallied twice, extending his goal-scoring streak to five games and nearly picked up a third in the dying seconds of the game. Maxim Letunov also found the back of the net and Colin DeAugustine put on a strong display between the pipes for the Phantoms (7-11-3, 17 points), turning away 38 shots in the loss.

"We had a lot of guys who were sick and battled through tonight and lost some more numbers on the bench, but I thought we were good," head coach Anthony Noreen said. "I had no issue with any of our play throughout the game. I thought our guys deserved better but there some factors played a role in the game that were unfortunate."

One of the factors Noreen referenced was likely Indiana defenseman Tim Shoup's goal 12:19 into the third period the cut Youngstown's lead to 3-2. Ice captain Tyler Pham took a shot from the left wall and 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward Tyler Andrew crashed the net, bowling over the 5-foot-7, 165-pound Phantoms goaltender. The play went un-penalized by referee Curtis Marouelli and Shoup swooped in and put in the loose puck while DeAugustine was still on his back.

Adding insult to injury, Andrew went on to tie the game at 3-3 with 3:51 remaining in regulation. DeAugustine made a save on Tyler Kosack but the rebound kicked right off to Andrew on the back post.

Connor had a golden opportunity to regain the lead minutes later when he burst down the right and cut toward the net for a clear shot on Ice goaltender Jason Pawloski. But before the Phantoms leading scorer could get the shot off, he was clearly hooked from behind by Indiana defenseman Joshua Jacobs. That play went un-penalized as well.

Even in the final seconds of regulation, Connor had a chance to complete the hat trick, when he undressed a pair of Ice defenders with a toe drag and fired a wrist shot, but Pawloski got a piece of it with the blocker moments before the buzzer sounded.

"I didn't really know how much time was left," Connor said. "I was just trying to get the puck to the net and see what would happen."

"Kyle had a lot of quality chances in the third - some that he was impeded on and some that he got to the net," Noreen said. ". The opportunities we did have to turn it around [in the third] were kind of taken out of our hands. I thought we probably should have seen a lot more positive results from the hard work and the chances that we created."

Pham was credited with game-winner 1:01 into the overtime. After being hemmed down in their own end, the Ice broke out and Aidan Muir fired a shot on net. The rebound shot back out, bounced off Pham's skate and squeezed past DeAugustine.

Connor picked up his first goal of the night right before the five-minute mark of the second period. JJ Piccinich won a 4-on-4 face off and fed it to Michigan recruit on the backdoor for an easy tap-in. Connor notched his team-leading 11th goal of the season at the 11:28 mark with short-handed goal set up once again by Piccinich.

Letunov opened the scoring 6:52 into the contest. Kiefer Sherwood found the Russian rookie between the circles and he made a quick shake to bring the goaltender down before flicking a backhand top shelf for his ninth goal of the season.

Muir knotted it at 1-1 with three minutes left in the period after an odd bounce off a Youngstown face off win gave the Edmonton Oilers draft pick a partial breakaway. The Phantoms, dressed just 11 forwards in the game due to injuries, lost another midway through the second when Josh Melnick was sidelined after blocking a shot. Defenseman Tommy Parran was the victim of an ugly check from behind from Ice forward Michael Booth later in the period. Booth was given a five-minute major and game misconduct but Parran did not return to the game.

Phantoms by the Numbers

Shots - 28

Saves - 38

Power Play - 0-for-5

Penalty Kill - 5-for-5

Goals - Connor (10, 11), Letunov (9)

Assists - Piccinich (8, 9), Sherwood (8)

Next on the Slate

The Phantoms return to action Friday, Dec. 6 when they host the Chicago Steel at the Covelli Centre in their annual Teddy Bear Toss game to benefit Marine Corps Toys for Tots. Fans who bring a teddy bear or other stuffed animal to the Covelli Centre box office can purchase tickets at a discounted rate and teddy bears will also be available for purchase for just $5 in the arena. Then once the Phantoms score their first goal, fans are asked to celebrate for throwing their teddy bears on the ice and all stuffed animals will be gathered and donated to Toys for Tots. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. EST. For more information call 330.747.PUCK.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all Phantoms' home games at the Covelli Centre. Phantoms 10-Game Flex Plans are also available starting at the low price of just $89. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter ( @YtownPhantoms ) and 'like' them on Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms ).

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