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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Game Notes vs Chicago

March 22, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms wrap up their three-game weekend on Sunday afternoon in Chicago against the Steel at 4:30pm ET. The Phantoms are coming off of a 4-0 shutout of the Waterloo Black Hawks on Saturday night, in which they tied a USHL Tier-I record (2002-Present) with their 16th consecutive win. Saturday's win also clinched their third playoff berth in team history.

LAST NIGHT RECAP: The Youngstown Phantoms clinched a spot in the 2015 Clark Cup Playoffs, with a 4-0 win over the Waterloo Black Hawks on Saturday night. Goaltender Chris Birdsall stopped all 24 shots he faced, while forwards James Winkler, Josh Nenadal, Ryan Lomberg, and Kyle Connor netted the goals for the Phantoms, who tie a USHLTier-1 record (2002-Present) with their 16th consecutive win.

The Phantoms wasted little time getting on the board, as just 5:01 into the first while on the power play, Lomberg threw a pass to Winkler who deflected it past Waterloo goaltender Cale Morris, giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.

That lead became 2-0 about seven minutes later, when Nenadal skated over the Waterloo blueline and fired a wrister that rang off the post and in past Morris, 13:28 into the frame.

The Phantoms' lead held up throughout the remainder of the first period, and in the second, it only took 57 seconds for the Phantoms to light the lamp, as a shot from Connor ricocheted off of the end boards and bounced out to the low slot where a wide open Lomberg flipped it over the shoulder of Morris, extending Youngstown's lead to 3-0; a lead the Phantoms took with them into the locker room after 40 minutes.

The Phantoms' special teams struck again early in the third while shorthanded, when Connor picked the puck off of a defender's stick in the left-wing corner of the offensive zone, skated behind the net, and tucked it in on a wrap around, capping the 4-0 win for the Phantoms.

PREVIEWING CHICAGO: The are coming off of a 7-5 loss to the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday night. Despite the loss, the Steel have won five of their last seven games, and currently sit 11 points behind the Dubuque Fighting Saints for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

They are let by forward Mason Bergh, who has accounted for 54 points (19g, 35a) through 46 games this season. Not far behind him is 50-point man and Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Fredrik Olofsson (24g, 26a), and Tanner Laczynski, who has totaled 14 goals and 23 assists. In goal, Lassi Yrjola has shouldered the bulk of the load since Chicago traded Cale Morris, posting a 10-6-1 record, along with a 3.10 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.

PLAYOFF CLINCHER: Youngstown's 4-0 win Over Waterloo on Saturday clinched a spot in the USHL Clark Cup Playoffs for the Phantoms for the third time in team history. Youngstown previously participated in the USHL's second season in 2012 and 2013, advancing to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2013.

CHASING HISTORY: The Phantoms tied the USHL Tier-1 era record (2002-Present) with their 16th consecutive win on Saturday night. The 2013-14 Waterloo Black Hawks, and the 2005-06 Sioux Falls Stampede are the other two teams to hold the record, and the overall USHL record is 19, set by the Des Moines Buccaneers during the 1998-99 season.

OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!: Team Captain Josh Nenadal was a driving force in the Phantoms' two wins over Waterloo this weekend, accounting for two goals on the weekend. Nenadal had goals on both Friday and Saturday against his former team, with Friday's goal coming with 42 seconds left in the third to win the game. This season, he has set new career highs in goals (8), assists (9) and points (17), and is currently on a five-game point streak, accounting for three goals and two assists in that span.

HELLO, OLD FRIENDS: Sunday marks the first time that Phantoms defenseman Connor McDonald will be facing his former team since being acquired at the USHL trade deadline for defenseman Carson Vance. McDonald spent two seasons with the Steel, accounting for three goals and 18 assists in 102 career games. He has tallied an assist in his first six games with the Phantoms.

Vance has made an immediate impact in a Steel uniform, totaling three goals and six assists in is first six games with Chicago. He took home USHL CCM Defenseman of the Week honors following his first weekend with the Steel, after accounting for four assists and a plus-four on-ice rating.

Game 54: Youngstown Phantoms vs Chicago Steel

Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Edge Ice Arena, Bensenville, IL-4:30 pm

YNG: 35-13-5, 75 PTS-1st Place (East)

CHI : 26-23-3, 55 PTS-5th Place (East)

BIRD IS THE WORD: Goaltender Chris Birdsall earned third shutout of the season with a 24-save performance in Satur- day's 4-0 win over Waterloo, and is currently riding a seven-game winning streak. The Boston College commit is 9-2-0 in his last 11 starts, posting a 2.16 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage in that span. He has allowed more than two goals just once on his current winning streak. MAN DOWN? NO PROBLEM: The Phantoms continued their shorthanded prowess last night as Kyle Connor scored a shorthanded goal early in the third, giving the Phantoms 16 on the year, which leads the USHL. Forward Ryan Lomberg leads the USHL with six shorthanded goals on the year.

STANDING ON THE TOP: The Phantoms currently boast three of the top five point scorers in the USHL, including League-leader Kyle Connor (28G-39A-67P), Max Letunov, who ranks third with 58 points (23g, 35a), and Josh Melnick who is tied for sixth with 13 goals and 43 assists for 56 points. As a team, Youngstown leads the USHL in scoring, averaging 3.88 goals per game.

JUST WIN, BABY!: Goaltender Colin DeAugustine extended his winning streak to nine games, with a 29 save perfor- mance in Friday's 2-1 win over Waterloo. He has won 10 of his last 11 starts, and is 13-1-0 overall in his last 16 games played.

He has posted a 1.74 goals-against average, and a .935 save percentage on his current nine game winning streak.

OFF THE SCHNEID: With a pair of goals last Friday, forward Kevin Conley snapped his 18-game scoring drought, dating back to December 19th. The NHL Draft top prospect now has six goals to go along with a pair of assists in his first USHL sea- son.

CENTURY CLUB: With a power play goal in March 7th's 6-2 win over Sioux Falls, forward Max Letunov reached 100 points in his USHL career. He joins current teammate Kyle Connor, and alums Austin Cangelosi and JT Stenglein, as the only Phan- toms to score 100 or more points in their USHL careers. The Arizona Coyotes prospect has 42 goals and 58 assists through 109 career USHL games, and is currently third in the League with 57 points (23g, 34a) this season. He is on a 10-game point streak, accounting for eight goals and eight assists in that span.

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 fifth-ranked power play in the League, converting on 21.62% of their chances (56/259), Their 55 power play goals leads the USHL, and forward Kiefer Sherwood is currently third in the League with 11 power play markers on the year. The penalty kill has been just as solid, leading the USHL by killing off 180/208 opposition power plays (86.27%), while scoring a League-leading 16 shorthanded goals; six of which belong to forward Ryan Lomberg, who leads the USHL in that category. In Overall, 20 different players have recorded at least one special teams point this season.

LEAGUE LEADERS: The Phantoms are amongst the leaders in the USHL in many offensive categories, including goals (206) assists (332), points (538), power play goals (56), and shorthanded goals (16). Currently, the Phantoms lead the League in scoring, averaging 3.88 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.

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