Furious First Leads Lancers to Win over Phantoms
Published on March 7, 2014 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
RALSTON, Nebraska - Entering Friday night's contest with the Lancers, the Phantoms knew they were in for a difficult test. Omaha entered the night leading the league in points, boasting the league's top two scorers as well as its top goaltending tandem.
Although second-ranked USHL point-getter Tyler Vesel missed the contest for the Lancers, Omaha still showed their quality, scoring three times in the first period and never looking back en route to a 5-2 win over Youngstown.
Two of those three first period goals came on the power play, something that Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen figured would play a large role in the contest, as Omaha possesses the league's second ranked power play, and its top penalty kill.
"When you play a good team, and when you play big games like this, special teams are a huge factor," said Noreen. "The one penalty we took was completely uncalled for. The other one was just kind of a missed assignment. Our 'D' got crossed up, and when you miss assignments against a team like this, the puck goes in the net. That's the way it goes."
Ryan Tait scored on the power play to open the contest for the Lancers at 8:04 of the first. The remainder of the first stanza was the Steven Johnson show, as the Omaha defensemen scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season to give Omaha a 3-0 lead after one. His first goal came on a end-to-end rush, and his second was a shot from the top of the point on the power play.
"We gave them chances, and they scored," said Noreen. "On the flip side, we had a lot of Grade 'A' chances that we didn't bury. We had a breakaway in the first and a breakaway in the second. We had a lot of Grade 'A,' goalmouth chances that we didn't put in the net, and they buried their chances."
Noreen is not concerned about the Phantoms missed chances becoming an ominous trend.
"When guys like Tyler [Spezia] and Kyle [Connor] get breakaways, I like their chances of scoring those consistently," said the Phantoms coach, referencing two specific chances his team could not score on. "Credit their goaltender for answering the bell when his team needed him to."
Hayden Hawkey started in net for Omaha, and stopped 21 of 23 for the victory. In 25 appearances this season, Hawkey now has a 1.75 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. Both are tops in the USHL, and he was strong in the first to keep the Phantoms off the board.
"I think there were a few individual mistakes on their first three goals," commented Alfred Larsson on Omaha's start. "They're a really good team, they're fast-paced, and they have really skilled guys. They came out and shocked us a little, even though I think we should be prepared for a team like that."
Despite the strong play by Hawkey, the Phantoms found a way to beat him at the start of the second, scoring twice in the frame's opening 1:31 to get within one goal. Larsson tipped in a power play tally for his first goal of the season, and on the next shift, Zach Evancho put home his seventh of the season on a rebound chance.
"I've been back on the power play over the last two weeks, so we've been working on having me in front of the net with Kyle [Connor], JJ [Piccinich], and [Josh] Melnick doing their passes," said Larsson. "I try to get in front, in the dirty areas, and try to tip a goal or get a rebound."
Tait scored his second of the game to extend the Omaha lead back to two, ending the Phantoms' mini-surge. From there, Omaha did an excellent job of closing out the game, although it was played much more evenly throughout the final 40 minutes-something that both Noreen and Larsson agreed with, despite the slow start.
"There was a direct reason for all three goals against," said Noreen on his team's start. "One was a one-on-three, and two were while we were on the penalty kill. [In the first intermission], we gave a message, we talked about what we needed to do to be better, and I thought from that point on, I really liked our game. I thought we were hard, physical, I thought we made plays, and I thought it was an even game from that point on."
"I thought we outplayed them over the last two periods," said Larsson. "I think we outscored them in terms of chances. We proved over the last two periods that we can play at their pace, so I think we have a good chance tomorrow."
The Phantoms will now have to regroup and look to start stronger against a powerful Omaha team that will be looking for a sweep on Saturday night.
"Bottom line, losing games is unacceptable," said Noreen. "I don't care if you're playing the best team in the league, or the worst, losing games is unacceptable. We need to find a way to win these hockey games. We need to be better tomorrow night. We were good tonight; at times, maybe as good as we've ever been, but we need to better. That's on us-all of us-to make sure that we are tomorrow night."
United States Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2014
- Furious First Leads Lancers to Win over Phantoms - Youngstown Phantoms
- Lumberjacks Complete Comeback, Top Tri-City - Tri-City Storm
- Morris Backstops Steel to 4-0 Shutout Friday Night - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Ice win 6-1 - Indiana Ice
- Stampede Inch Closer to a Playoff Berth with 5-2 Win at Des Moines - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Morris Earns Shutout over Dubuque - Chicago Steel
- Tait Leads The Charge As Lancers Topple Phantoms, 5-3 - Omaha Lancers
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