Down 2-0 In Series, Phantoms Return Home For Game 3 Wednesday
April 21, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio - After unprecedented success since February 29 - winning 12 of 14 games - things came to a streaking halt this past weekend for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms as they lost Games 1 and 2 of the North Division finals to the first seeded St. Louis Bandits at the Hardees IcePlex in Chesterfield, Mo.
The Bandits' No. 1 line of Ben Warda, Mike Merrifield, and Josh Rabbani combined for six points on Friday night to help lead the team to a 3-0 third period lead - and eventually a 4-1 win in Game 1.
"We knew coming in here that they are a tough team to play at home and it took us a while to get going," said Phantoms assistant coach Curtis Carr after Friday's loss. "Obviously, we gave them a few more scoring opportunities than we would have liked, but it is hard to get into a rhythm when we were facing the penalty trouble that we had."
Goaltender Garrett Bartus was the lone bright spot for the Phantoms in Game 1, making 36 saves on 39 shots while helping the team kill off 10 of 11 Bandits' power plays. Despite the loss, Bartus' first in four starts this post-season, the veteran still leads all North American Hockey League goaltenders with a .947 playoff save percentage.
St. Louis jumped out to another early lead on Saturday night, scoring the first of three shorthanded goals just 4:05 into the game. Ben Miller also tallied two even-strength goals for the Bandits, while goaltender Mike Johnson turned away 28 of 30 Phantoms' shots for his second win of the post-season, leading St. Louis to a 5-2 Game 2 triumph.
"I thought Saturday we actually played a pretty good game," said Carr. "We stuck to the game plan as a whole, and for the most part, five-on-five, I thought we played very well. A few bounces here and there and it might have been a different outcome."
Despite the loss, Phantoms forward Alden Hirschfeld collected a goal and an assist to tie Derek Graham for the team lead in playoff points with five. The two have tallied at least one point in four of the five games this post-season. The Phantoms coaching staff feels the team made strides in Game 2.
"I think we definitely improved; it was a case of night and day," said Phantoms head coach Bob Mainhardt about the difference between the two games. "It was a much tighter game, and although the outcome was the same, we definitely improved. We didn't play our best, however, and St. Louis played their usual solid game, out played us, and won."
Down two games to none in the best-of-five series, the Phantoms will now gain the benefit of hosting the next two games in Boardman. While Mahoning Valley is just 2-6-2 against the Bandits this season, they did enjoy a 2-1-1 record versus St. Louis within the friendly confines of the Ice Zone.
"We believe home ice will be an advantage for us," said Mainhardt. "Either way, this is a five game series. Whether you are up two games or down two games, you have to look at it one game at a time, and we think we are prepared to have our best effort come Wednesday night."
Dating back to the regular season, the Bandits have now won nine consecutive games. The Phantoms losing back-to-back games in the same weekend happened for just the second time in the 2007-2008 campaign. The only other such instance was identical 5-1 losses back on February 23-24 - at St. Louis.
Both teams have already clinched a berth into the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament from April 30 - May 4 in Chesterfield, Mo. The Bandits, as hosts, earned an automatic bid, while the Phantoms, because they are playing the Bandits in the divisional finals, will represent the North.
At the rink before Game 3 on Wednesday night, fans can enjoy dollar drafts and will be entertained by Spatz from 93.3 - The Wolf - and the Mahoning Valley Thunder cheerleaders from 5-7 p.m. The opening face-off is set for 7:15 p.m.
Game 4, if necessary, is slated for a 7:15 p.m. start time at the Ice Zone on Friday. If needed, Game 5 will return to the Hardees IcePlex on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. EDT.
Catch all Phantoms hockey action 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 21, 2008
- Locally Owned Horse To Compete In Kentucky Derby - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Down 2-0 In Series, Phantoms Return Home For Game 3 Wednesday - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Falls To Russia, 3-1, In Semifinals - U.S. National Team
- Bandits' Merrifield Named NAHL Rookie Of The Year - NAHL
- Blues lose to Alexandria 3-3; Series Tied at One Apiece - Springfield Jr. Blues
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