USHL Youngstown Phantoms

O'Connor Spectacular, Phantoms Down Dubuque 3-2

Published on January 27, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Dubuque Fighting Saints came out from the drop of the puck firing shot after shot and peppering the Youngstown Phantoms each and every time they got the rubber on their stick.

There was just one problem: Matthew O'Connor.

The 6-foot-5 goaltender was superhuman Friday night in the Covelli Centre, turning away 40 shots to lead the Phantoms (21-12-3, third East) to a 3-2 win in a crucial Eastern Conference battle. Todd Koritzinsky had a goal and an assist and Austin Cangelosi and Ryan Belonger, who netted the game-winner, also found the back of the net. But without question, the night belonged to O'Connor.

"In a 60-game season, at some point or another, you're going to need your goaltender to steal a game," Head Coach Anthony Noreen said. "Bottom-line, flat-out, Matt O'Connor stole us that game."

O'Connor looked sharp early, but Jono Davis put the Fighting Saints (20-11-3, fourth East) up 1-0 at the 7:42 mark in the first. The diminutive winger intercepted an errant clearing attempt at the Phantoms' blue line and skated in alone, and slipped a low backhand shot between O'Connor's feet.

A bit past the midway point in the period Zemgus Girgensons, the No. 14-ranked skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting, forced another turnover and got his opportunity alone with O'Connor. The Latvian again tried to get the lanky netminder moving laterally, but this time tried to sneak a backhand inside the far post and O'Connor got a toe on it to kick it away. It was the best of five saves on Girgensons that Boston University commit made in the first period alone.

Then less than two minutes later, Youngstown defenseman Mike Gunn got the puck in transition and moved it to Mike Ambrosia on the right wing. The captain feathered a pass across the ice for Cangelosi, who was barreling toward the net, and he rifled a one-timer past a sprawling Dubuque goaltender Matt Morris to tie the game at one. And despite the fact that the Phantoms were outshot 20-5 in the period they entered first intermission knotted up.

"Sometimes as a goaltender, when you see 20 shots early... it gets you into a game," Noreen said. "On the other side, the guy's sitting there and he's cold - he hasn't seen shots in awhile."

That was just the case in the second, as Koritzinsky put the Phantoms up 2-1 on their first of shot of the period, coming at the 11:30 mark. He intercepted a sloppy pass at center ice and sped down the side-wall as Morris, who had been resting in his net, came out challenge him. But before he could cut off the angle, Koritzinsky snapped the puck past his glove and into the goal.

"Todd's a guy who hasn't been in the lineup much - he's been out more than he's been in," Noreen said. "But he shows up to the rink everyday with a smile on his face.

"And the goal he scored tonight - that's what we expect to see out of him in the future. He's a guy who we know is going to score a lot of big goals for this franchise."

Five and a half minutes later, the Phantoms stretched the lead to two goals and again it was Koritzinsky who provided the spark. The Verona, Wis., native got the puck again in the neutral zone, chipped it around the Dubuque defenseman, and turned on the after burners. He chased it down behind Morris' net, drew the attention of the defense, and snuck a pass for Belonger, who parked himself in front of the net and threw the puck right in.

"That's something we talk about constantly," Noreen said. "We say, 'Let's not beat guys 1-on-1. Let's put pucks behind them and use our speed to go get them.' That's just what Todd did."

The Phantoms carried a 3-1 lead into the second intermission, despite trailing 33-12 in the shot department. O'Connor continued his stellar play in the third, but at the 12:04 mark, he was proved mortal. Tyler Lundy sent a pass for TJ Moor from his own zone, and Moor split the Phantoms' defense, went in alone and put it past O'Connor on the blocker side to pull within one.

But O'Connor would not be beaten again, and despite a 6-on-4 advantage for the Fighting Saints for the final 1:04 after an accidental delay of game penalty, the Phantoms emerged with the victory.

"Matty took the team on his back and led by example," Noreen said. "He just refused to lose the entire night."

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United States Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2012


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