Motor City Rematch Looms for Phantoms
November 6, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
WYANDOTTE, MI (Thursday, November 6th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms return to Detroit this weekend for their second series of the young season with the Motor City Machine.
In their previous meeting in southeast Michigan, the Phantoms swept a two-game set from the Machine, winning 2-1 and 5-3 at the newly renovated B.F. Yack Arena in early October.
Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt says that he expects the level of play to make a big jump from the first series at Motor City.
"We're definitely much more comfortable in our systems," said Mainhardt about his own squad, "and guys have gained confidence in their individual roles. Our younger players have also adjusted to the speed of Junior A hockey, so I think all-around there will be better games this weekend... from both sides."
The teams' first two regular season meetings featured a high number of power play opportunities for both sides as the teams combined for 129 penalty minutes. The Phantoms ended up with the better weekend in terms of special teams, finishing 2-for-20 on the power play while killing off all 15 power plays the Machine earned on the weekend.
With so many penalties last time, Mainhardt says that it's going to be key for the Phantoms to maintain their composure and stay out of the box.
"Discipline is going to be very, very important this weekend," says Mainhardt, "just like with normal systems, everybody's getting more comfortable on special teams. It's going to be big for us to remain disciplined and minimize their opportunities on the power play while capitalizing on ours."
Motor City enters the weekend on a 12-game losing streak, dating back to September 26th. In response to the skid, the Machine have made big changes to their roster in the past two weeks. Last week, the Machine signed former OHL enforcer Anthony Iaquinto and former St. Louis Bandits first round draft pick Billy Balant. They followed those two signings earlier this week by trading captain Andy Inderieden and assistant captain Reed Rushing to Marquette for the Rangers' second-leading scorer, Josh Bussell.
Bussell joins the Machine and immediately inherits the team's scoring lead with 13 points, having amassed five goals and eight assists prior to the trade. The Phantoms are led in scoring by both forward Brandon Saad and defenseman Cullen Lundholm, each with ten points. Saad has registered six goals and four assists while Lundholm has added one goal and nine assists.
Puck drop on both Friday and Saturday nights will be at 7:10 PM from Benjamin F. Yack Arena. Both games will be broadcast live at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks with the pregame show beginning at 7:00 PM.
Season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information. The Phantoms will be holding a Meet the Team event at the Chevrolet Centre from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM this coming Monday, November 10th.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2008
- U.S. Junior Select Team Tops Russia, 8-2 - U.S. National Team
- Motor City Rematch Looms for Phantoms - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Machine Talk about Important of Studies to Elementary Schools in Area - Motor City Metal Jackets
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