Harrison the Hero as Phantoms Take Game One
Published on April 4, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio (Friday, April 4, 2008) - Robert Harrison's shot from the point found its way through a maze of traffic and into the back of the net 17:16 into overtime, sending over 1000 fans at the Ice Zone into a frenzy. After 77:16 of hockey, the goal, his second of the night, finally gave the Mahoning Valley Phantoms a 3-2 win and 1-0 lead in their best-of-five North Division semi-final series against the Alpena Ice Diggers.
Garrett Bartus turned aside a team record 57 shots to earn his first career playoff victory. Bartus' win included a number of close calls while killing off an Alpena powerplay in the sudden death session.
Harrison's first of the night opened the scoring. Late in the first period, Harrison intercepted an Alpena pass in the slot of his own zone to stymie an Ice Digger scoring chance, took the puck coast-to-coast, and sniped a wrister over the blocker of Alpena goalie Nick Graves to give Mahoning Valley the 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
The Phantoms killed off a plethora of Alpena power plays in the early going of the second period before Grant Blakey doubled the lead. Derek Graham's turnaround shot off the rebound of a Jon Madden blast from the point found the right leg of Graves. Blakey was there, however, to pick up the second rebound and fire it top-shelf for his first career NAHL playoff goal.
Alpena's Russ Anderson took matters into his own hands in the third period. Anderson intercepted a clearing attempt on the right wing, walked in uncontested, and floated a backhand over Phantoms goaltender Garrett Bartus, cutting the lead in half, 2-1.
Just six minutes later, Anderson again lit the lamp, firing a steep-angle shot over Bartus' glove, tying the game and eventually forcing the extra period.
Graves picked up a loss in his first career NAHL playoff game, despite making 46 saves. Neither team was able to convert with the man-advantage.
The Phantoms will host the Ice Diggers in Game 2 on Saturday night at the Ice Zone in Boardman. The opening face-off is set for 7:15 p.m. Catch all Phantoms hockey action live on the web at www.mvpphantoms.com.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2008
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls, 4-2, at St. Louis - U.S. National Team
- Harrison the Hero as Phantoms Take Game One - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Harrison the Hero as Phantoms Take Game One - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Weekly - U.S. National Team
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