Phantoms and Bandits play to Draw on Day Two
Published on May 1, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (Thursday, May 1, 2008) - Behind 31 saves from goaltender Garrett Bartus and two assists from forward Miles Winter, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms were able to comeback and earn a 3-3 tie in the closing seconds of regulation against the St. Louis Bandits in Day Two of the Robertson Cup Championships on Thursday night at the Hardees IcePlex.
With the net empty at the other end and just 13 ticks left on the clock, Kyle Bailey took two whacks at a rebound from a Robert Harrison shot from the point and buried the game-tying goal between the legs of St. Louis goalie Mike Johnson to send the game to overtime.
Each team earns one point for their effort. With a win on Friday night against the Alexandria Blizzard, the Phantoms can clinch a spot in Saturday's semifinal.
"I thought we put a good 60 minutes together, we worked hard," said Phantoms head coach Bob Mainhardt after the game. "There were a lot of ups and downs in that game, but we didn't get out of it mentally and we are still alive - with a victory tomorrow we can still advance."
In much the same fashion as their North Division Final series against each other, it did not take long for either team to start getting their offensive chances.
Just 2:03 into the game, Andrew Hamburg's shot from the point deflected right to St. Louis sniper Kyle O'Kane who fired home his second of the playoffs up over a sprawling Bartus, to give the Bandits an early 1-0 advantage.
Just over four minutes later, Johnny Meo finished off a 2-on-0 with Miles Winter, wristing home his second of the post-season, top shelf, over Johnson's glove. Phantoms captain Trent Bonnett assisted as well, pulling the Phantoms back to even.
The Phantoms then took the lead with just 62 seconds remaining in the opening frame, when Kyle Verbeek rifled a power play goal over Johnson's blocker, off the left post, and into the back of the net. Verbeek's first of the playoffs was assisted by Scott Moser and John Houston and gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
In a period that saw nine combined penalties, only one team was able to take advantage of their power play chances in the middle frame. After sensational goaltending at both ends, and with just 2:03 left in the period, Sam Bozoian fired a shot from the high slot up over Bartus' glove to make it two-all heading into the third period.
Things remained scoreless through nearly 19 minutes of the final frame before St. Louis took a 3-2 lead on a questionable power play opportunity. Bozoian cashed in for his second netter of the night with just 1:02 left in third period, setting the stage for Bailey's heroics in the waning seconds of regulation.
The Phantoms went 1 for 8 with the man-advantage, while St. Louis converted twice on five attempts. Johnson turned aside 30 of 33 Phantoms shots.
The Phantoms and the Blizzard face off on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. EDT. Catch all the action live on the web at www.mvpphantoms.com. The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2008
- Blizzard face must-win game...again - Alexandria Blizzard
- Phantoms and Bandits play to Draw on Day Two - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Blizzard Fall 3-2 in National Opener - Alexandria Blizzard
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