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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Game Notes: vs Sioux City

March 14, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms wrap up their weekend series with the Sioux City Musketeers on Saturday night at 7:05. The Phantoms picked up a 4-2 win over the Musketeers on Friday, and now have sole possession of first place in the USHL's Eastern Conference. The win also moves Youngstown into a tie with the Musketeers for first place overall in the USHL.

LAST NIGHT RECAP: The Youngstown Phantoms (32-13-5) collected a 4-2 win over the Sioux City Musketeers on Friday night. Forward Kevin Conley potted a pair of goals, while defenseman Vas Koli- as and forward Ryan Lomberg each had lone tallies. The win extends the Phantoms' winning streak to 13 games, and moves them into the top spot in the USHL's Eastern Conference.

Like last weekend, the power play was put to work early, as 15:11 into the first, forward Matt Alvaro crashed the net from the right wing and sent a pass through the crease to Conley who tapped it in past Sioux City netminder Collin Olson, giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

After Sioux City's Adam Johnson tied the game, 1-1, 8:50 into the second, Youngstown regained the lead at 17:23, when Kolias came streaking down the left wing and flipped a backhander past Olson, giving the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.

Youngstown found the back of the net just over a minute later, when Conley followed up a rebound after a Connor McDonald shot and fired it past Olson, extending the Phantoms' lead to 3-1, 18:34 into the second, on his second goal of the game.

The Phantoms capped off their monstrous second period 56 seconds later, when defenseman Alec Vanko found a wide open Lomberg in the slot and he slammed it into the net, putting the Phantoms up 4-1 after two periods.

The Musketeers cut the Phantoms' lead in half on a goal from Jake Ryczek midway through the third, however that was all the offense Sioux City was able to muster, as Phantoms goaltender Colin DeAu- gustine stopped 33 of the 35 shots he faced to collect his eighth win in a row.

PREVIEWING SIOUX CITY: The Musketeers are currently tied with the Phantoms atop the League standings with 69 points, but enter Saturday's contest having dropped four of their last five games. Sioux City is second in the League, averaging 3.69 goals per game, and are led by three of the USHL's top eight point scorers in Adam Johnson (28g, 32a), Robert Carpenter (29g, 26a) and Joe Snively (19g, 31a). In goal, Collin Olson has shouldered most of the load, posting a 24-8-4 rec- ord, along with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Special teams has also been a strong point for the Musketeers this season, as they are in the top four in both power play con- version (24.06%) and penalty kill percentage (84.54%). They have also scored 13 shorthanded goals on the year, which is second to Youngstown's 14.

OFF THE SCHNEID: With a pair of goals last night, 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 season.

JUST WIN, BABY!: Goaltender Colin DeAugustine extended his winning streak to eight games, with a 33 save performance in last night's 4-2 win over Sioux City. He has won nine of his last 10 starts, and is 12-1-0 overall in his last 15 games played. He has posted a 1.83 goals-against average, and a .931 save percentage on his current eight game winning streak.

CENTURY CLUB: With a power play goal in last Saturday's 6-2 win over Sioux Falls, forward Max Letunov now has 100 points in his USHL career. He joins current teammate Kyle Connor, and alums Austin Cangelosi and JT Stenglein, as the only Phantoms 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 five assists in that span.

LEAGUE HONORS: Forward Kyle Connor was named CCM Forward of the Week on Monday, after recording three goals and four assists points in a two-game sweep of the Sioux Falls Stampede last weekend. This is the third League honor of the season for Connor, who was also named CCM Forward of the Week for the weeks of October 20th -26th, and February 2nd - 8th . Connor is the USHL scoring leader, accounting for 61 points (25g, 36a) through 45 games played. He has points in three straight (5g, 4a), and has 11 goals and 11 assists over his last 12 games played.

Game 51: Youngstown Phantoms vs Sioux City Musketeers

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH-7:05 pm

YNG: 32-13-5, 69 PTS-1st Place (East)

SC : 32-15-5, 69 PTS-1st Place (West)

STANDING ON THE TOP: The Phantoms currently boast three of the top five point scorers in the USHL, including League-leader Kyle Connor (25G-3A8-63P), Max Letunov, who ranks third with 57 points (23g, 34a), and Josh Melnick who is tied for sixth with 12 goals and 41 assists for 53 points. As a team, Youngstown leads the USHL in scoring, averaging 3.90 goals per game.

MAN DOWN? NO PROBLEM: The Phantoms continued their shorthanded prowess last Friday night as Josh Melnick scored a shorthanded goal late in the third, giving the Phantoms 14 on the year, which leads the USHL. Youngstown has scored a shorthanded marker in four of their last eight games. Forward Ryan Lomberg leads the USHL with six shorthanded goals on the year.

BIRD IS THE WORD: Goaltender Chris Birdsall earned his fifth win in a row last Saturday, turning out a 33-save perfor- mance in the 6-2 win over the Stampede. The Boston College commit is 7-2-0 in his last nine starts, posting a 2.54 goals- against average and a .912 save percentage in that span, and has allowed more than two goals just once on his current win- ning streak.

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 21.58% of their chances (52/241), Their 51 power play goals leads the USHL, and forward Kiefer Sherwood is currently tied for second in the League with 11 pow- er play markers on the year, including one in last Friday's 7-3 win over Sioux Falls. The penalty kill has been just as solid, rank- ing second in the USHL, killing off 169/195 opposition power plays (86.67%), while scoring a League-leading 14 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 amongst the leaders in the USHL in many offensive categories, including goals (195) assists (315), points (510), power play goals (52), and shorthanded goals (14). Currently, the Phantoms lead the League in scoring, averaging 3.90 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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