Four-goal Outburst Powers Phantoms to 6-2 Win
Published on January 24, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms used a four-goal third period to turn a tight game into a 6-2 laugher over Detroit's Motor City Machine at the Chevrolet Centre on Saturday night.
With the game tied at two mid-way through the third period, Mahoning Valley forward Nick Kenney opened the floodgates with his 8th goal of the season, redirecting a Cullen Lundholm shot past Motor City goaltender Joe Moore for a 3-2 Phantoms lead with 10:01 left in regulation.
Kenney, who has seven goals and seven assists in ten games with linemates Jordy Trottier and Nick Shkreli, said that the line combo is getting better every game.
"Things are going great out there for our line," said Kenney, who also added two assists, "we're building some momentum and things have been clicking for almost a month. I hope we can keep this going for awhile."
Doug Clifford followed six minutes later when his centering feed intended for Brandon Saad deflected off Motor City defenseman Alec Thieda into the net.
Saad would then add an empty-net goal with 1:07 left in the game, but the Phantoms were not done scoring. Kyle Van notched his first goal of the year when he rocketed a slap shot past Moore with 18 seconds left for the final margin of 6-2.
After Van's goal, the game took an ugly turn with the two teams combining for 26 penalty minutes in the last six seconds of the game, including misconduct penalties on Mahoning Valley's George Saad and Motor City's Kurtis Anton following the final buzzer.
Garrett Bartus won his fifth game in his last six starts in net for the Phantoms, improving his record to 8-5-2 on the season. He made 17 saves on the night.
Shkreli and Cole Schneider also notched goals for Mahoning Valley, while Trottier added two assists to move his team-leading points total to 31.
Andrew Tate and Trevor John scored for the Machine, who dropped to 6-29-1 with the loss.
The Phantoms (24-9-3, 51 pts) once again maintained their two-point lead for first place over Traverse City (22-9-5, 49 pts) in the North Division; the North Stars blanked Marquette 2-0 on Saturday night.
Mahoning Valley will wrap up their third three-game weekend of January on Sunday when they travel to Ann Arbor, MI, for a 3:00 PM matinee against the US National Team at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
The game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 2:45 PM.
Phantoms season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2009
- T.C. Sweeps - Marquette Rangers
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Tops Alpena, 6-4 - U.S. National Team
- Four-goal Outburst Powers Phantoms to 6-2 Win - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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