Despite Third Period Comeback, Phantoms Fall in Home Finale
April 25, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio (Friday, April 25, 2008) - Patrick McCadden's third goal of the playoffs sailed over the glove of screened goaltender Garrett Bartus 7:21 into overtime to give the St. Louis Bandits a 5-4 win over the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in Game 4 of the North Division Finals on Friday night at the Ice Zone in Boardman. St. Louis wins the best-of-five series three games to one.
After a valiant Phantoms comeback in the third period, nearly eight minutes of a fast-paced overtime that saw 15 shots on goal, a power play, and numerous scoring chances on both ends, McCadden capitalized on a loose puck in the left circle, turned, and fired his series-clinching shot.
Mike Hull weaved his way through the Phantoms defense and got St. Louis on the board first just 5:40 into the opening period. Andrew Hamburg picked up the helper on Hull's fourth tally of the playoffs.
Mahoning Valley answered a little more than four minutes later when Brent Dexter finished off a 2-on-1 with Kyle Bailey. Dexter slid a backhand between the legs of St. Louis goaltender Mike Johnson for his second goal of the home stand.
At 13:02 of the first, Mike Merrifield put the Bandits back on top when he tipped Jeff Ceccacci's shot from the point through Bartus' five-hole. The goal was Merrifield's fifth of the post-season and gave the Bandits a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
Hamburg then fired home his first goal of the playoffs at the 12:23 mark of the middle frame. Hamburg led a 2-on-1 down the left wing and, after the lone Phantoms' defenseman back committed to the pass, fired home the unassisted goal over Bartus' glove to put St. Louis up 3-1 after two.
Kyle Bailey started the Phantoms come back by banking home a power play goal from behind the St. Louis net and pulling the Phantoms to within one at the 6:04 mark of the third period. Nick Kenney and Trent Bonnett assisted on Bailey's third goal of the post-season.
Just 1:23 later, John Houston tied the game at 3-3 putting a shot home through a maze of traffic in front of Johnson. Houston would end the night with a goal and two assists.
Merrifield tallied his second goal of the contest with 9:43 left in regulation, deflecting his shot off the skate of Bonnett, to put St. Louis back on top, 4-3.
With just three minutes remaining in regulation, however, the Phantoms answered again. Johnson let up a big rebound on Houston's shot from the point; Hirschfeld was there to notch his third marker of the playoffs, and set the stage for the overtime heartbreak.
Bartus finished the night with 47 saves on 52 shots. Johnson turned aside 39 of 43 Phantoms attempts. The Phantoms went 1 for 5 with the man-advantage.
Next up, the Phantoms head to the Hardees IcePlex in Chesterfield, Mo. for the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament beginning on Wednesday afternoon.
Catch all Phantoms hockey live on the web at www.mvpphantoms.com. The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 25, 2008
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