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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Game Notes vs Green Bay

February 21, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms continue their three-game road trip in Green Bay against the Gamblers on Saturday night.

The Phantoms took the first two games of the season series back in January in Youngstown, earning a 3-2 win on the 9th, before picking up a 4-2 victory on the 10th. Youngstown is currently riding a six-game win- ning streak, and are coming off of a 1-0 win over the Bloomington Thunder on Thursday night. The Phan- toms currently sit tied for second in the USHL's Eastern Conference with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

THURSDAY NIGHT RECAP: The Youngstown Phantoms (25-13-5) picked up a 1-0 win over the Bloomington Thunder on Thursday night. Forward Max Letunov scored the lone goal for the Phan- toms, while goaltender Chris Birdsall stopped all 27 shots he faced to collect his second shutout of the season. The win extends the Phantoms' winning streak to six games, which ties the all-time team rec- ord for consecutive wins, and places them in a tie for second place with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL's Eastern Conference.

After a scoreless opening period that saw both sides exchange some quality scoring opportunities, the Phantoms got on the board early in the second period while on the power play, when forward Kyle Connor fed Letunov in the slot, and Letunov blasted a one-timer past Thunder goaltender Hayden Lavigne, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0, 2:08 into the second period. Letunov has now scored in four consecutive games.

A few minutes later, Thunder defenseman Cameron Spicer took a shot from the point that was tipped into the net by forward Jacob Slaker, however the goal was waived off after it was determined the puck was knocked in by a high stick, and the Phantoms took their 1-0 lead into the locker room after 40 minutes.

Both teams came out firing in the third period, and the two sides exchanged a plethora of quality scor- ing opportunities, including a Bloomington breakaway that was stopped by Birdsall. With the goalie pulled, the Thunder mounted a late third period rush, however Birdsall stood tall and preserved the 1-0 win for the Phantoms.

PREVIEWING GREEN BAY: The Gamblers have dropped their previous four games, and 13 of their last 14 overall. Despite the struggles as of late, 10 of those 13 losses have been by two or fewer goals. Leading the way offensively for Green Bay is Chris Brown, who has accounted for 13 goals and 17 assists through 40 games this season. He is followed by Ryan Tait, who has totaled 11 goals and 11 assists. In goal, Kevin Reich leads the way statistically, compiling a 6-7-1 record along with a 2.87 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

REACHING FOR THE TOP: Forwards Kyle Connor and Max Letunov are inching closer to the USHL's scoring lead. With an assist in Thursday's 1-0 win over Bloomington, Connor is now second in the League with 49 points (19g, 30a) through 39 games played. He is currently riding a six game point streak, having accounted for five goals and five assists in that span. Not to be outdone, Letunov scored the lone goal for the Phantoms on Thursday, giving him 46 points (20g, 27a) on the season, ranking him fourth in the USHL. The St. Louis Blues prospect is on a four-game scoring streak, total- ing five goals in that span. Sioux City's Adam Johnson is the current League scoring leader with 53 points (25g, 28a).

BIRD IS THE WORD: Goaltender Chris Birdsall earned his second shutout of the season, and his USHL career on Thursday, stopping all 27 shots he faced in a 1-0 win over the Bloomington Thun- der. The Boston College commit is 4-2-0 in his last six starts, and has allowed more than three goals on just two occasions during that span.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Phantoms have made a home on the road, winning their previous six away from the Covelli Centre, and eight of their last 10. The Phantoms are averaging 3.52 goals per game on the road.

CRAGGS POTS A PAIR: Forward Lukas Craggs registered the first two-goal game of his USHL career in last 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.

Game 44: Youngstown Phantoms vs Green Bay Gamblers

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Resch Center, Green Bay, WI-8:05 pm

YNG: 25-13-5, 55 PTS-T-2nd Place (East)

GB : 14-23-5, 33 PTS-8th Place (East)

JUST WIN, BABY!: Goaltender Colin DeAugustine extended his winning streak to four games, with a 32 save perfor- mance in last 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 last 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.

TAKING HOME THE HARDWARE: Forward Kyle Connor was named USHL CCM Forward of the Week two weeks ago, tallying four goals and an assist over three games from February 6-8. He scored a pair of goals in February 8th's 5-0 win over the Madison Capitols, and netted the lone goal in regulation on a penalty shot in February 7th's 2-1 SO win over the Capitols. He also tallied the game-winner in the 3-2 win over Muskegon on February 6th.

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 40 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 21.46% of their chances (44/205). 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 143/164 opposition power plays (87.19%), 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 (155) assists (250), points (405), power play goals (44), and shorthanded goals (8). Currently, the Phantoms are third in the League in scoring, averaging 3.60 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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