Phantoms Can't Solve Robbins in 4-2 Defeat
Published on April 1, 2023 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown Phantoms' coach Ryan Ward
(Youngstown Phantoms, Credit: Scott Galvin Photography)
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - Less than 72 hours after giving up eight goals on 41 shots in 40 minutes of action, Raythan Robbins had a huge bounce-back performance in net for the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Only a pair of redirect goals for the Youngstown Phantoms (33-17-4-1, 71 points) got behind Robbins as he led his Muskegon Lumberjacks to a 4-2 victory Friday night at the Covelli Centre.
"I thought we controlled play for most of the game, but their goaltender was outstanding," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "I really liked a lot of the things we did tonight, but sometimes that's how it goes."
After a scoreless first period, Youngstown opened the scoring with a record-breaking play. With the Phantoms on the power play, Jake Rozzi attempted a centering feed, and his pass ricocheted off Shane Lachance and through the five-hole of Robbins at 5:28, giving Youngstown a 1-0 lead. The power play goal for Lachance was the 22nd of his career, breaking the Phantoms record for career power play goals which had been held by Kiefer Sherwood since the end of the 2014-15 season. Andrew Strathmann also had an assist on the play, his 34th of the campaign, breaking Trey Taylor's record for assists by a Phantoms defenseman in a season, which Taylor set last year.
Muskegon tied it just over 90 seconds later after two penalties on the same play found Youngstown down two men for a full two minutes, allowing Cody Croal to put home his own rebound at the 7:00 mark, tying the game. Youngstown is now 6-17-2-1 in any game in which they allow a power play goal. They are 27-0-2-0 when they do not.
The Phantoms power play, which was 2/5 on the game, struck again later in the frame. Andon Cerbone fired a shot from center point that redirected perfectly off Martin Misiak at the side of the net and behind Robbins at 14:01, giving Youngstown back the lead. "Martin played his finest game as a Phantom," said Ward. "Hopefully that's something he can build off of."
The 'Jacks answered back in the final minute of the middle frame, the first of three straight goals to earn them the win. Just eight seconds after Youngstown killed off a penalty, Gavin McCarthy blasted a one-timer from the left circle past Colin Winn (20 saves) with 53 seconds left in the period to send the teams to the locker room tied at 2-2. Michael Callow chipped a bouncing puck past Winn 1:24 into the third period to put Muskegon in front. Youngstown pushed for the tying goal hard through the middle portion of the third period, but Robbins did his best work of the night, denying the Phantoms the tying goal. A late penalty on Youngstown meant the Phantoms had to pull Winn to the bench while shorthanded, and Croal capped off the night with an empty-net power play goal at 19:18.
The loss denied the Phantoms the opportunity to move past idle-Chicago and into first place in the Eastern Conference. Due to postponements in Iowa due to severe weather, the 'Jacks are now five-points out of the sixth and final playoff spot. The two teams wrap up their season series Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.
By the Numbers
Shots - 38
Saves - 20
Power Play - 2/5
Penalty Kill - 2/4
Goals - Lachance, Misiak
Assists - Centrella, Cerbone, Rozzi, Strathmann
Images from this story
 Youngstown Phantoms' coach Ryan Ward (Scott Galvin Photography) |
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