Offense Soars as Phantoms Dump Diggers 6-3
Published on December 28, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Sunday, December 28th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms rode two separate three-goal periods to a big 6-3 win at the Chevrolet Centre over the visiting Alpena IceDiggers on Sunday night.
By scoring three goals in both the first and third periods, the Phantoms' have now rattled off 11 goals in their last two games after scoring only five in the previous three.
Cole Schneider led the Mahoning Valley charge with two goals, including a power play tally in the first period and the game winner in the third period. After the game, Schneider said his first goal was the result of some good work by his teammates.
"We were on a 5-on-3 power play at the time," said Schneider, "and Johnny Meo won the face-off back to Carl [Nielsen]. Carl's shot hit the post and it was sitting right behind [Alpena goalie Nick] Graves, and I just tapped it in."
Schneider's second goal came with the score at 3-2 when he got behind the IceDigger defense for an even-strength breakaway. He deked to the backhand and slid one past a sprawling Graves for the eventual game-winner.
Mahoning Valley rushed out to an early 3-0 lead in the first period on goals by Schneider, Michael Gunn and Michael Pateras, but goals in the second and third period by Alpena's Jay Camper and Sam Cheraso cut the lead to 3-2 before Schneider's second goal broke things open.
Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt said he was pleased with his team's offensive performance Sunday but added there was still a lot to work on for Monday.
"Overall I thought we did a better job of getting to the net and playing a little hungrier [than Alpena]," said Mainhardt. "But we kind of took the second period off, so we've got to find a way to put together a full sixty minutes of hockey. If we don't, that's going to hurt us down the stretch."
Erik Higby and Doug Clifford each scored in the third period to put the game out of reach at 6-2. Team captain Johnny Meo added two assists to collect his tenth and eleventh points of the 2008-2009 season.
Cheraso would add a second goal late in the third period to make the final margin 6-3, in favor of the Phantoms
In net for Mahoning Valley, Jordan Tibbett improved to 14-3-0 by turning aside 31 of 34 IceDigger shots; Alpena's Graves fell to 13-6-2 after giving up six goals on 36 shots.
The win gives the Phantoms (18-7-2, 38 pts) a three-point cushion over idle Traverse City (15-6-5, 35 pts) for first place in the North Division.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2008
- Offense Soars as Phantoms Dump Diggers 6-3 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
