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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Letunov Hits Milestone as Phantoms Keep Rolling

March 7, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OH- The Youngstown Phantoms (31-13-5) picked up a 6-2 win over the Sioux Falls Stampede on Saturday night. Forward James Winker scored a pair of goals, while forward Max Letunov notched his 100th career USHL point with a power play goal in the first period. Forwards Kyle Connor, Ryan Lomberg, and Josh Nenadal also scored for the Phantoms, who extend their winning streak to 12 games, and move to within two points of next week's opponent; the Sioux City Musketeers for the top spot in the USHL.

As was the case on Friday, the Phantoms' power play got off to a fast start, as Letunov took a feed from forward Kiefer Sherwood and stuffed it into the net, giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead 13:48 into the opening period. The goal marked the 100th career USHL point for Letunov, and extended his point streak to 10 games.

"It feels amazing, and it's a big honor to hit 100 points in the USHL," said Letunov. "You can see by tonight's game that it's a physical, playoff-type game every night in this league, and it really prepares you for the next level."

The Stampede managed to tie the game in the last second of the period, when forward Parker Tuomie found the back of the net, evening the game up, 1-1, after 20 minutes.

The Phantoms regained the lead 8:20 into the second, when Connor picked off a Sioux Falls pass and skated in on Sioux Falls goaltender Stefanos Lekkas and scored, extending the Phantoms' lead to 2-1.

That lead became 3-1 a few minutes later, when Lomberg won a race to the puck over the Stampede blueline and dragged the puck around Lekkas, who came out to charge the puck, and flipped it into the open net, 11:47 into the frame.

That lead held up throughout the remainder of the second, and 3:31 into the third, Winkler launched a laser over the shoulder of Lekkas, pushing the Phantoms' lead to 4-1.

After Sioux Falls cut the Youngstown lead to 4-2 on a goal from Clint Lewis, Winkler netted his second of the period, when he sniped one past new Stampede goaltender Art Brey, extending the lead to 5-2, 13:49 into the third.

"It was great to get those two, but all the credit goes to my teammates Craggs and Sheehy each made some great passes to set me up for both of those goals," said Winkler.

The Phantoms wrapped up their 12th win in a row roughly four minutes later, when forward Lukas Craggs fed Nenadal on a 2-on-0 rush, and Nenadal slipped it past Brey, capping off the 6-2 win over Sioux Falls.

"It was a very well-put together six periods of hockey for us this weekend, and I thought we came and did what we needed to do," said Nenadal. "Outside of the first half of the opening period last night, I thought we were lights out on the weekend."

The Phantoms were outshot on the night, 35-24, while the power play converted on one of seven chances. The Phantoms welcome in the Musketeers next weekend for a pair of games beginning Friday at 7:05pm.

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