Game Notes: vs Bloomington
February 19, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
The Phantoms hit the road for three games in four days this weekend, beginning Thursday in Bloomington.
Thursday will mark the end of the eight-game season series between the two sides, with the Phantoms holding a 6-1-0 edge. Youngstown is currently on a five-game winning streak, their longest since February 23-March 2, 2013 (Five games).
LAST SATURDAY RECAP: The Youngstown Phantoms (24-13-5) earned a 3-2 win over the Dubu- que Fighting Saints on Saturday night, completing the weekend sweep of Dubuque. Lukas Craggs had a pair of goals, while forward Max Letunov added one for the Phantoms, who extend their winning streak to five games.
The Phantoms struck quickly in the first, as just 1:46 in, forward Josh Melnick fed Letunov out front, and he stuffed it past Dubuque netminder Jacob Nehama, giving Youngstown an early 1-0 lead that held up throughout the remainder of the period.
In the second, the Phantoms lit the lamp just past the halfway mark, when forward Chase Pearson won a faceoff back to Craggs, who blasted a shot past Nehama, extending the Phantoms' lead to 2-0, 12:03 into the second.
After a power play goal from Dubuque's Seamus Malone a few minutes later, Craggs struck again at 18:35, when Connor slipped him a pass from below the goal line, and he snapped it past Nehama, pushing the Youngstown lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes.
The Fighting Saints made things interesting in the third, as Malone scored his second of the game, 14:23 into the third, cutting the Phantoms' lead to 3-2.
The Fighting Saints had a few chances down the stretch, however Phantoms goaltender Chris Birdsall stood tall, stopping 42 shots on the night, sealing the 3-2 win for Youngstown.
PREVIEWING BLOOMINGTON: The Thunder have been on a tear lately, winning eight of their last nine games, and currently sit just five points out of a playoff spot in the USHL's Eastern Confer- ence. They are led by Matt Mendelson who has accounted for 31 points (11g, 20a) through 40 points this season, with 13 of those points (5g, 8a) coming in his last 10 games. Behind him is a trio of 26- point scorers in Shane Bednard (12g,14a), Ryan Siroky (10g, 16a), and Ryan Galt (7g, 19a). In goal, Hayden Lavigne has been red-hot since joining the Thunder, posting a 7-2-0 record along with a 2.32 goals-against average and .904 save percentage through 11 games played.
CRAGGS POTS A PAIR: Forward Lukas Craggs registered the first two-goal game of his USHL career in Saturday's 3-2 win over Dubuque. His second goal held up as the game-winner. Craggs has been a staple in the Phantoms' lineup over the last couple of months, and has accounted for four goals and three assists through 29 games this season.
REACHING FOR THE TOP: Forwards Kyle Connor and Max Letunov are inching closer to the USHL's scoring lead. With a goal and three assists in last weekend's sweep of Dubuque, Connor is now second in the League with 48 points (19g, 29a) through 38 games played. He is currently riding a five game point streak, having accounted for five goals and four assists in that span. Not to be out- done, Letunov potted a pair of goals on Friday night and added another on Saturday, giving him 46 points (19g, 27a) on the season, placing him in a tie for third in the USHL. Sioux City's Adam Johnson is the current League scoring leader with 52 points (24g, 28a).
JUST WIN, BABY!: Goaltender Colin DeAugustine extended his winning streak to four games, with a 32 save performance in Friday night's 6-4 win over Dubuque. He won all three games for the Phantoms two weekends ago, allowing just three goals on 85 shots. DeAugustine has won five of his last six starts, and is 8-1-0 overall in his last 11 games played.
MAN DOWN? NO PROBLEM: Forward Ryan Lomberg scored his fifth shorthanded marker of the season in Friday night's 6-4 victory over Dubuque, moving him into a tie for the League-lead in that category. He also scored a shorthanded marker in January 23rd's 5-3 win over Cedar Rapids. He has been an offensive force all season long, accounting for 18 goals and 12 assists on the season.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Phantoms have made a home on the road, having won their previous five away from the Covelli Centre, and seven of their last eight. The Phantoms are averaging 3.75 goals per game on the road.
Game 43: Youngstown Phantoms vs Bloomington Thunder
Thursday, February 19, 2015
U.S. Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington, IL-8:00 pm
YNG: 24-13-5, 53 PTS-3rd Place (East)
BLM : 20-17-7, 47 PTS-5th Place (East)
TAKING HOME THE HARDWARE: Forward Kyle Connor was named USHL CCM Forward of the Week last week, tallying four goals and an assist in three games last weekend. He scored a pair of goals Sunday's 5-0 win over the Madison Capitols, and netted the lone goal in regulation on a penalty shot in Saturday night's 2-1 SO win over the Capitols. He also tallied the game-winner in Friday night's 3-2 win over Muskegon. Connor has points in 12 of his last 15 games (8g, 12a), and leads the team in scoring with 19 goals and 28 assists.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT: Forward James Winkler scored a pair of power play goals in the 3-2 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks back on February 6th, in his first action on the power play all season. The Phantoms' power play had been strug- gling, going 0-for-10 the previous weekend against Cedar Rapids, and 1-for-24 prior to Friday night.
COLLEGE BOUND: Defenseman Tommy Parran recently announced his commitment to Ohio State University. The Shaker Heights, OH, native will not have to travel far, as Ohio State is only a two hour and fifteen minute drive from his hometown. Parran becomes the 16th player from the current roster to commit to an NCAA Division I college or university.
YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST: Defenseman Carson Vance's game-winner in January 2nd's 4-3 win over Chicago marked the first goal of his USHL career. Through 39 career USHL games, the Tempe, AZ native has a goal and seven assists.
WELL AREN'T YOU SPECIAL: The Phantoms special teams units have been amongst the best in the USHL all season long. The Phantoms currently boast the fourth-ranked power play in the League, converting on 21.18% of their chances (43/203). Kiefer Sherwood is currently third in the League with 10 power play markers on the year. The penalty kill has been just as solid, ranking second in the USHL, killing off 141/162 opposition power plays (87.04%), while scoring eight short- handed goals; five of which belong to forward Ryan Lomberg. In the Phantoms' sweep of the Bloomington Thunder on October 24th & 25th, nine of the team's 11 goals on the weekend were of the special teams variety; six on the power play and three shorthanded. Overall, 18 different players have recorded at least one special teams point this season.
LEAGUE LEADERS: The Phantoms amongst the leaders in the USHL in many offensive categories, including goals (154) assists (248), points (402), power play goals (43), and shorthanded goals (8). Currently, the Phantoms are third in the League in scoring, averaging 3.66 goals per game.
PHANTOMS STEAL THE SHOW: The Phantoms were the main topic of conversation at the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Dubuque, IA, as the first three goals of the game were scored by Youngstown Phantoms. Forward Kevin Conley had a pair of first period goals and an assist, while forward Chase Pearson tallied a first period goal of his own and also dished out an assist, helping Team East to a 7-4 win. For his efforts, Conley was named Team East Most Valuable Player. It did not stop there, as midway through the second period, goaltender Chris Birdsall came into the game for Team West and proceeded to stop all nine shots he faced. Despite being held off the scoresheet, the Phantoms' other two representatives, forward Kyle Con- nor and defenseman Kris MyllarI, each finished with a plus-one on-ice rating.
ALL-TIME LEADER: With his goal in November 16th's 4-3 overtime loss to the Lincoln Stars, Kyle Connor became the Phan- toms' all-time goal-scoring leader, with the 55th goal of his career, surpassing Sam Anas' 54. Connor scored his 50th career goal back on October 11th, making him the 18th player in USHL history to reach the mark, and just the third player in League history to score 50 before his 18th birthday, joining former Waterloo Black Hawk Taylor Cammarata, and former Omaha Lancer Seth Ambroz. In addition to Connor and Anas, former Phantom Austin Cangelosi is the only other Phantom to score 50 goals in a career.
THE NHL COMES CALLING: Three players with Youngstown ties were chosen in last June's NHL Draft - Max Letunov, JJ Piccinich and Nathan Walker. Letunov was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round with the 52nd overall se- lection, making him the second-highest NHL Draft selection in Youngstown Phantoms history (Scott Mayfield, 2nd RD, #34 Overall to NYI in 2011). Next up was Walker, who was selected in the third round (89th overall) by the Washington Capitals. He suited up for the Phantoms during the 2012-2013 season, and last September signed a professional contract with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), making him the first Phantoms player to make the jump from the USHL to the AHL. Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Walker is the first Australian-born player to be selected in the NHL Draft. The Final Phan- tom taken off the board was Piccinich who was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round with the 103rd overall pick. Currently a freshman at Boston University, Piccinich just wrapped up a two-year USHL career in which he totaled 30 goals and 43 assists in 123 games played.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2015
- Lavigne Makes 23 Saves in Close Game with Youngstown - Bloomington Thunder
- Sunday's Mascot Mania Sure to Provide Laughs - Dubuque Fighting Saints
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- Fox Sports Detroit Girls Headline Red Wings Night to Conclude February - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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