Phantoms Down League-Leading Dubuque 4-3
Published on March 14, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Youngstown Phantoms found themselves tied 3-3 with the league-leading Dubuque Fighting Saints heading into the final period Thursday night, despite being outshot by a 30-9 margin.
"I'll be as honest as I can be, we weren't good in the first and the second period," head coach Anthony Noreen. "But we asked the guys, "ËIf we told you when you were getting off the bus that we'd have a 3-3 game heading into the third, would you take it?' Every guy to a man said they would. "ËOK, let's put that behind us.'"
The Phantoms took the ice with renewed energy to open the final frame, outshooting the Fighting Saints 8-1 through the first 11 minutes. But, suddenly Dubuque had a chance and Peter Quenneville rang a shot off the crossbar. Nathan Walker chased down the puck and fed it across the ice for Sam Anas, who walked into the zone, undressed defenseman Mike Downing with a deke and backhanded a shot over the shoulder of goaltender Christian Frey to Youngstown in front with eight minutes remaining.
The Phantoms held on, despite a late-period push from Dubuque, to win 4-3, handing the Fighting Saints just their regulation loss at home this season.
"It was a hard fought third period that could have gone either way. But Sammy makes a special, individual play after we get a bit of puck luck at the other end, Noreen said. "You see it at all levels of hockey, from the NHL down to youth - the change of momentum. When you get your chances you've got to put the puck in the net otherwise that's what usually happens."
Captain Austin Cangelosi led the for Youngstown (29-21-0, 58 points) with a goal and a pair of assists while Cam Brown and Kyle Connor also found the back of the net. Goaltender Sean Romeo was a rock between the pipes, turning away 35 shots to pick up his 24th win of the season
The Phantoms found themselves down a man early in the first with Jimmy Mazza in the box, but did not let up against the league's fourth-ranked power play. Cangelosi stole the puck away at his own blue line and flew down the boards before pulling up at the Dubuque right circle and threading a pass to a trailing Brown. The Maine recruit wasted no time firing a wrist shot high to the stick side of goaltender Arthur Brey for his 10th of the season.
Mike Szmatula knotted it up for the Fighting Saints (37-10-6, 80 points) at the 5:40 mark, when he got the puck off an odd bounce on a dump in from Karson Kuhlman. Szmatula snuck in behind the Phantoms defense and beat Romeo on the 1-on-0.
But with a little more than three minutes remaining, Youngstown re-took the lead. Cangelosi gathered up the puck off a blocked shot and hit Connor sprinting down the ice on the left side. Connor used his body to shrug off Boston Bruins draft pick Matt Benning and slid a wrist shot between Brey's legs to put the Phantoms up 2-1 on just their fourth shot of the game and chase the Saints' starting goaltender.
"You really saw everything that Kyle brings to the table on that one play," Noreen said.
The Fighting Saints bombarded Romeo with shots to open the second period and Jarrid Privitera tied the game at 2-2 at the 9:04 mark, when he fired in a rebound from a sharp angle. But despite being outshot by a hefty margin, the Phantoms grabbed the lead again six minutes later.
Tommy Davis saw Cangelosi at the Fighting Saints' blue line and hit him with a homerun pass. The Boston College commit glided into the zone, dropped it for Connor and then sprinted to an opening low in the slot. Conner threaded the puck to him and Cangelosi wristed it in for his 15th goal of the season, and third point of the night.
"The key to that was Cange's willingness to go to the ugly area," Noreen said. "You go to that area against this team and you're usually going to get a stick, a body or maybe both put on you. But he wasn't going to let them stop him from getting there, and when he gets there, he gets rewarded with a goal."
With just 35 seconds remaining in the period, and on their 30th shot of the night, the Fighting Saints tied it up once again. Kuhlman got a shot off a cycle down low and Romeo made a sprawling save, but Szmatula grabbed the rebound and put a backhand shot high, where the Phantoms netminder had no chance.
"A lot of credit has to go to Sean Romeo for keeping us in it in the first two periods," Noreen said. "He made some huge saves."
Phantoms by the Numbers
Shots - 18
Saves - 35
Power Play - 0-for-1
Penalty Kill - 2-for-2
Goals - Anas, Brown, Cangelosi, Connor
Assists - Cangelosi (2), Connor, Davis, Walker
Next on the Slate
The Phantoms continue their road swing Friday in Bensenville, Ill., when they take on the Chicago Steel. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. EST at the Edge Ice Arena and the game will be webcast on FASTHockey.com
Phantoms Flex Packages are on sale now starting at the low price of just $75. Flex Packages include 10 undated ticket vouchers that can be redeemed at any game and in any increment throughout the rest of the season. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve a Phantoms Flex Package today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter ( @YtownPhantoms ) and "Ëlike' them on Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms ).
United States Hockey League Stories from March 14, 2013
- Phantoms Down League-Leading Dubuque 4-3 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Romeo Stops 35 to Lead Youngstown Past Dubuque, 4-3 - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Black Hawks Go Green Friday - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Luck be with the Saints on Irish Night Saturday - Dubuque Fighting Saints
- Phantoms Announce 2013-14 Season Tickets to Go on Sale Today - Youngstown Phantoms
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