USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Game Notes: vs Omaha

March 27, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms continue their five-game road trip on Friday night in Omaha, against the Lancers. The Phan- toms are coming off of a three-win weekend last week, in which they set a new USHL Tier-1 era record (2002-Present) with their 17th consecutive win. The Phantoms also clinched their third playoff spot in team history last weekend. Youngstown remains atop the USHL overall standings, three points ahead of the Tri- City Storm.

LAST SUNDAY RECAP: The Youngstown Phantoms (36-13-5) earned a 4-3 win over the Chicago Steel on Sunday afternoon. Forwards Tyler Sheehy, Kiefer Sherwood, Matt Alvaro, and Kyle Con- nor scored the goals for the Phantoms, who set a USHL Tier-1 era record (2002-Present) with their 17th consecutive win.

The Phantoms picked up right where they left off on Saturday night. Just 29 seconds into the opening frame, Connor came down the right wing on a 2-on-1 rush and sent a pass to Sheehy who tapped it past Steel goaltender Lassi Yrjola, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0.

After Chicago's Fredrik Olofsson tied the game, 1-1, on the power play a few minutes later, the Phan- toms regained the lead late in the frame, when forward Josh Melnick sent a pass to Sherwood who slammed it past Yrjola, giving the Phantoms a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.

The Steel tied the game, 2-2, three and a half minutes into the second on a goal from John Schilling, but the Phantoms were not able to find the back of the net in the period, and the two sides headed to the locker room tied, 2-2.

After the Steel took the lead 2:16 into the third on a goal from Marcel Godbout, the Phantoms knotted the game back up, when Alvaro took possession of the puck in the high slot and cut in front of the net and sniped it past Yrjola while falling, tying the game, 3-3, 4:47 into the period.

The Phantoms continued to apply the pressure, and with under five minutes left, Connor took a pass from Sheehy at the top of the right-wing circle and launched a shot through traffic that beat Yrjola, sealing the 4-3 win for the Phantoms.

PREVIEWING OMAHA: The Lancers currently sit in third place in the USHL's Western Confer- ence, just six points back of the Tri-City Storm . They enter Friday's game having dropped five of their last seven games. They are led by Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, who has accounted for 53 points (25g, 38a) this season. Right behind him is team goals leader Shane Gersich, who has totaled 26 goals and 20 assists this year. In goal, Kris Oldham has shouldered most of the load, compiling an 18 -5-4 record, along with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. Omaha also boasts the League's tp penalty kill, killing off 86.42% of oppositional power plays; just ahead of the Phan- toms.

RECORD BREAKERS: The Phantoms set a new USHL Tier-1 era record (2002-Present) with their 17th consecutive win on Saturday night. The 2013-14 Waterloo Black Hawks and the 2005-06 Sioux Falls Stampede both held the previous record with 16. The overall USHL record is 19, set by the Des Moines Buccaneers during the 1998-99 season.

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.

OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!: Team Captain Josh Nenadal was a driving force in the Phantoms' two wins over Waterloo last 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.

JUST WIN, BABY!: Goaltender Colin DeAugustine extended his winning streak to 10 games, with a 26 save performance in Sunday's 4-3 win over Chicago. He has won 11 of his last 12 starts, and is 14-1-0 overall in his last 17 games played. DeAugustine has posted a 1.87 goals-against aver- age, and a .925 save percentage on his current 10 game winning streak.

Game 55: Youngstown Phantoms vs Omaha Lancers

Friday, March 27, 2015

Ralston Arena, Ralston, NE-8:35 pm

YNG: 36-13-5, 77 PTS-1st Place (East)

OMA : 30-15-8, 68 PTS-3rd Place (West)

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 on Saturday 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 (29G-40A-69P), Max Letunov, who ranks third with 58 points (23g, 35a), and Josh Melnick who is tied for fourth with 13 goals and 44 assists for 57 points. As a team, Youngstown leads the USHL in scoring, averaging 3.88 goals per game.

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 21.46% of their chances (56/261), Their 56 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 182/211 opposition power plays (86.42), 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 (210) assists (340), points (550), 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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