USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Late Power Play Seals Game for Riders in Front of Record Covelli Crowd

Published on March 29, 2014 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - An electric atmosphere at the Covelli Centre saw the Phantoms again take the playoff-bound Cedar Rapids RoughRiders right down to the wire, before a late power play allowed the visitors to pull away and take a 4-1 victory.

A major penalty on Alfred Larsson for attempting to fight Andrew Poturalski with just over eight minutes remaining allowed Cedar Rapids to seal the game with two insurance tallies, sending the non-School Day Game franchise record crowd of 3,261 home unhappy.

"It was a net-front scrum," said Larsson, explaining the play. "[Poturalski] kind of cross-checked me, and then we were pushing at each other. I thought that he wanted to go, and I dropped my gloves. When you stand there and drop your gloves, there's not much you can do. I kind of had to fight. He didn't, so I got a little unlucky there.

"I tried to get the boys going, but I was little unlucky to get a five minute major, and they scored two goals. It's never good when the team gets affected like that from a play you did, so it's tough."

The penalty thwarted a third-period Phantoms comeback effort after Judd Peterson put the Riders ahead at the 6:14 mark of the final frame. The third period was especially disappointing for Youngstown because of the way they played in the second, outshooting Cedar Rapids 16-4, but only getting one goal to show for their effort.

"It's frustrating," said Anthony Noreen. "The only thing we're mad about is the score. For the last six periods, we've been a pretty good hockey team. We played well, battled hard, and sold out for each other. There's a week left, and if the boys keep playing like that, they will be rewarded down the stretch."

Danny Tirone was fantastic in net for the RoughRiders, particularly in the middle stanza, backstopping his club to a series sweep over the Phantoms. Noreen, however, believed that his side deserved better.

"We were the better team tonight... We had Grade "˜A' chances all night long. I think we had four or five breakaways. They were good; credit their guys and their goaltender. They got that power play at the end and made us pay, but we're not going to fault our guys' effort."

The Phantoms' goal in the second period came courtesy of Kyle Connor, who continued his torrid pace by burying a nice cross-ice pass from JJ Piccinich.

"It's chemistry. They're two guys that have played a lot of hockey over the last two years," said Noreen on the continued success by Connor and Piccinich. "They came in on a visit here together, they play together, and they hang out together. It's a special thing about hockey when you get these kinds of connections."

The goal was Connor's 30th of the season, and in scoring it, he became just the third player in team history to record a 30-goal season, joining Sam Anas and JT Stenglein.

Although Cedar Rapids was able to pull away in the third, the crowd at Covelli provided an electric atmosphere right until the very end.

"It's awesome," said Larsson. "It's great to have people coming to support us, and I loved it. It's a great atmosphere in this building. I couldn't be happier than to have a lot of fans in this building."

Noreen agreed.

"It was awesome-great energy! Credit our front office staff, ownership, and our fans," said Noreen on the crowd. "That's what we want and that's what our goal is here. This team will win, and this team will represent this town the right way. We will make these people want to come back by the way we carry ourselves in the community. I hope we get to play in front of more crowds like that."

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United States Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2014


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