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Machine Refuel and Repay the Phantoms, 5-3

September 13, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Motor City Metal Jackets News Release


Youngstown, Ohio. - Round two goes to ten Machine as they take care of business 5-3 to finish the pre-season at 1-1.

The opening faceoff was won by Jake Friedman (Orchard Lake, MI) as the Machine set up shop and then turned things over to the Phantoms for the next stanza. R. J. Heath was slated as the starting tender and watched a whistler off his best friend, the cross bar, early on. Hard hitting action was displayed on both sides as each team tried to gain control of the puck while the first five minutes ticked right on by without a score.

The Machine found a ringer in Jared Williams (West Chicago, IL) to get the early lead at 1-0, as Friedman and Ryan Misiak (Shelby Township, MI) paved the assisted way.

The first man advantage was given to the Machine courtesy of Doug Clifford (Woodhaven, MI) for roughing. The Machine struggled on special teams last time around giving away two short-handed and a power-play goal but showed no signs of Jordan Tibbett (Indianapolis, IN) was tested early and often trying to hold down the fort trailing 1-0 with seven minutes gone by. A much better showing this time around until Clifford came out of the box on a break that Heath leg booted into the corner keeping the lead.

Bennett Schneider (Fort Myers, FL) was clocked for roughing at the 11:00 mark of the first giving the Phantoms their first crack on the power-play. A checking from behind call on Williams handed a two-man advantage off to the Phantoms. It wouldn't be long for them to tie the score by Colin Lundholm on the 5-on-3 making it 1-1 with under 10:00 to play in the first period.

Some close scoring chances for the Machine were missed by mere inches keeping things ever so close as Tibbett worked his magic. Too many open shot opportunities by the Machine left the door slightly cracked but the Phantoms couldn't capitalize.

A late penalty on Johnny Meo (Mundelein, IL) sent the Machine to another power-play as Andy Inderieden (Maple Grove, MN) falls head over skates for the goal as Misiak provided another assist. Indo chirps the crowd like the Hanson Brothers after dangling for the biscuit making it 2-1.

The first period came to closure with the Machine up 2-1 and some heated words exchanged on both sides adding more fuel to this season long fire.

The second period started just like the first with both teams looking to gain composure on their respective ends. Loose pucks ad gloves hindered the Machine from adding to their lead. Another whistle on the Phantoms gave the Machine their third power-play of the game. No such luck for the Machine as they moved to 1-3 on the man up.

A holding call on Alec Thieda (Rochester Hills, MI) pinned the back a skaters with under 15:00 to play in the second. A nice defensive display by Machine and Heath helped preserve the 2-1 lead. Anthony Olson broke away with a give-and-go but was beaten as he went right to left and Tibbett slammed the door. Garrett Bartus (St. Charles, IL) entered for the Phantoms as Joe Rogers (Marysville, MI) crept into the game for the Machine.

Nick Grams (Cottage Grove, MN) was called for hooking with under 7:00 in the second sending the Phantoms back on the power-play. Rogers made some keys saves to keep the Machine on top. Nothing came of this and things remained back and fourth for both sides as Bartus continued his stylish ways in net.

The Phantoms used a nice screen set-up while Christian Long (Cleveland, OH) made it 2-2 past Rogers as time was running out.

It wouldn't be long before Friedman & Co. came knocking on the door with a great offensive zone set keeping the puck between the circles for the 3-2 lead. Friedman buried it top shelf for his fourth point in two games.

Play resumed until two Downriver faithful exchanged fists with Adam Kuhn (Southgate, MI) and Clifford. Clifford got in the early blows but Kuhn held strong serving knuckle sandwiches like hor'dourves at a cocktail party. Both would sit for five minutes but the Machine took another lead into the locker room, 3-2.

With the third period beginning with the Machine trying to work the puck out of their zone as scoring chances sprung up all over. Rogers fought off some nice chances by the Phantoms to keep it close.

A battle in front of the net almost sent momentum back through the valley but the Notre Dame recruit, Rogers, hung tough while Kuhn was hauled off for roughing. After the expiration of the power-play the Machine fell back on defense. Half through the third saw the score still at 3-2 MCM. Some tough bounces off the boards made it difficult for both sides to get good quarterbacking to their strikers.

The Alaskan Jackson Spivey (Anchorage, AK) found the back of the twine with help from Nick Taurence (Trenton, MI) working to 4-2 in the Machine's favor.

The Phantoms would respond without wasting any time as Trevor Shively (Broadview Heights, OH) and Jordy Trottier (Bozeman, MT) dished up the special bringing the Phantoms within one at 4-3 with fewer than three minutes to play.

Rogers uses his vision to fend off a late vicious attack by the Phantoms as nobody can block any shots. Some miscues n their own end didn't seem to faze the Machine as Marco Ruggeri (St. Clair Shores, MI) put the icing on the cake for the 5-3 lead.

Friedman finished with goal and an assist for the Machine with Joe Rogers gets the win.

"We played tough and had solid play from all angles. This was a good test and win for us here in Youngstown," states coach Romaniski.

The Motor City Machine is in their first season in Michigan as members of the North American Hockey League. The Motor City Machine are formerly the Southern MN Express in which they made the playoffs three straight years and twice into the Robertson Cup finals. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33rd year of operation. For more information, visit machinehockey.com or call (734) 642-0544.

Machine home games will be played at Yack Arena in Wyandotte, Mich. All games are broadcast on machinehockey.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.

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North American Hockey League Stories from September 13, 2008


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