USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Merkulov's OT Winner Lifts Phantoms over U17's

Published on April 23, 2021 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, OH - Georgii Merkulov got his second goal of the night 1:21 into overtime off of a backdoor pass from Cole Burtch, lifting the Youngstown Phantoms (11-29-5-2, 29 points) to a 7-6 overtime victory over the United States National Team Development Program's U17 squad Thursday night at the Covelli Centre.

Youngstown opened up scoring at 5:03 when Burtch backhanded the puck through Tyler Muszelik's (26 saves) five-hole to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. After the puck was poked out of Phantoms' possession, Maddox Fleming blasted one in from the front of the net at 9:19 to make it an even game. Riley Duran registered a shorthanded goal when he blasted a slapshot past Muszelik at 19:51, giving Youngstown the 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

The Phantoms kicked off the second period with 45 seconds of penalty left to kill. Frank Nazar tied the game when he scored off a rebound just a second after the Phantoms penalty expired. Less than a minute later, Mikey DeAngelo snapped the puck through Kyle Chauvette (18 saves)'s five-hole at 1:23, making it 3-2. Team USA doubled their lead at 12:21 when Cruz Lucius scored on a 2-on-1 to make it 4-2. The Phantoms answered back just over 2 minutes later when Reilly Funk scored on a back door tap-in at 14:27, bringing the Phantoms within one. After taking a pass from Burtch, Merkulov raced down the center of the ice and tied it for the Phantoms with just under a minute remaining in the second period.

The Phantoms regained the lead just 1:51 into the third when Riley Duran got his second of the night off a set faceoff play, rifling a shot home from the slot. Fleming got on the scoreboard for the second time with a power play goal at 3:36 after Kenta Isogai was called for interference, tying the game again at 5-5. Mike Brown was sent to the box for tripping at 6:48, sending Team USA to their third power play of the game. Team USA took the power play to their advantage and took back the lead at 7:35 when Dylan Kaplan scored off a pass from DeAngelo. The Phantoms were back on the penalty kill at 9:52 when Brown was sent to the penalty box for roughing, but it was the Phantoms who cashed in. Duran completed the hat trick with a shorthanded goal putting home his own rebound at 11:46, knotting things up at 6-6.

"(Riley) was by far the best player on the ice," said Phantoms Head Coach Brad Patterson. "I thought he was competing on every single puck, he won every single foot race, and often when you have habits like that, you're going to have success on the scoresheet."

The Phantoms closed out regulation with a huge powerplay opportunity at 17:21 when Fleming was given a double minor for high sticking. The rest of regulation remained scoreless, sending the game into overtime.

With time winding down on the power play, Duran found Merkulov standing alone at the right post, and Merkulov lasered the puck to the back of the net from the edge of the blue paint just as Fleming stepped on to the ice, give Youngstown the win.

"We really have a passion right now," said Riley Duran. "Last three games, you just gotta leave it all out there."

The Phantoms are back in action Friday and Saturday night at the Covelli Centre for their final games of the season as they take on the U17's. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7:05.

By the Numbers

Shots - 32

Saves - 18

Power Play - 0/3

Penalty Kill - 1/4

Goals - Burtch, Duran (3), Merkulov (2)

Assists - Burtch (2), Duran, Furey, Gratton, Hall, Hillman, Kuznetzov, Malone, Merkulov, Silich

Box Score - https://www.ushl.com/view#/game-summary/9659

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics



United States Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2021


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