Phantoms Come out on Top in Back-And-Forth Battle with Muskegon
Published on February 19, 2022 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - Kyle Bettens' goal with 1:13 left in regulation proved the deciding factor as the Youngstown Phantoms (18-13-4-3, 43 points) found a way to win over the rival Muskegon Lumberjacks by a 7-5 score Friday night at the Covelli Centre.
"Pucks were jumping pretty good tonight, so it was about working for your bounces," said Phantoms Head Coach Brad Patterson. "We were just trying to deliver as many pucks (to the net) as possible. I thought we could have been a little quicker to close time and space defensively."
The first period saw four goals, with one being scored in both the opening minute and the final minute of the frame. Muskegon's Joey Larson beat Kyle Chauvette (19 saves) with a one-timer from the left dot exactly 1:00 into regulation and Quinn Hutson beat Chauvette from a similar spot with an open wrist shot with 51.1 left in the period to account for Muskegon's two goals in the period. Youngstown's Grant Porter opened the scoring for the Phantoms at the 10:36 mark, snapping a wrister over the shoulder of Muskegon's starting netminder Chase Clark (7 saves). The Phantoms grabbed a 2-1 lead at 18:13 when Justin Varner snapped a wrister from the right circle off the far post and behind Clark, but the Lumberjacks tied it 56 seconds later with Hutson's goal.
Youngstown scored the first two goals of the second period to grab a 4-2 lead. Winter Wallace smacked a bouncing puck past Clark just 1:18 into the second period, putting Youngstown ahead for the second time in the game and sending Clark to the bench in favor of Cameron Korpi (13 saves). Porter welcomed Korpi to the net rudely, scoring his second of the game 4:59 later, snapping a wrister from the left dot past Korpi as he came into the zone in a 2-on-1 rush with Justin Varner. "(Porter) has a heck of a shot, as you saw tonight," said Patterson. "The reason he gets (two goals) is how hard he worked to get loose pucks. His play hasn't gone unnoticed for sure." A breakaway goal for Larson at 6:30 and a fluky goal for Muskegon captain Jack Williams at 18:24 tied the game at 4-4, but the Phantoms retook the lead before the end of the period. With just 33 seconds remaining in the frame, Wallace got his second of the night, redirecting Trey Taylor's shot from the left point past Korpi for his 11th of the season, giving Youngstown a 5-4 advantage at the second intermission. "(Wallace) has one of the best shots I've seen as far as getting the puck off his tape," said Patterson. "He's got the ability to score from anywhere if he gets that puck off. He's been good down around the net front. He's a big body that's hard to move. He's good below the dots. He can skate for years. It's good that he's getting rewarded, we definitely need it." With the assist, Trey Taylor extended his scoring streak to seven games, passing Gianfranco Cassaro and Ryan Lowney for the longest scoring streak by a defenseman in Phantoms' history.
Muskegon scored the opening goal of the third when Jake Richard redirected Nathan McBrayer's shot 1:18 into the period, knotting the game at 5-5, which is where the game remained until the final 73 seconds of regulation. Carter Rose pinched in from his defensive position to keep the play alive in the Muskegon zone, chipping the puck into the corner for Jaden Grant. Grant fired a centering feed to a wide-open Kyle Bettens, who one-touched the puck behind Korpi for his 12th of the season, giving the Phantoms a 6-5 lead. Shane LaChance scored on the empty net 20 seconds later to cap off the victory.
The victory gave Youngstown three straight wins and points in six straight, the longest active streak in the league. The win also brought the Phantoms within one point in the standings of fourth-place Madison, who lost to Chicago tonight. Youngstown has five games in hand on the Capitols as they battle for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the upcoming Clark Cup Playoffs. Youngstown and Muskegon wrap up their weekend series Saturday night at the Covelli Centre with a 7:05pm puck drop.
By the Numbers
Shots - 27
Saves - 19
Power Play - 1/3
Penalty Kill - 1/1
Goals - Bettens, LaChance, Porter (2), Varner, Wallace (2)
Assists - Centrella, Grant, Ingram, LaChance, Machu, Taylor, Varner, Werner, Williams
Box Score - https://www.ushl.com/view/#/game-summary/10148
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- Stars Lose Shootout in Des Moines - Lincoln Stars
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