Phantoms drop Showcase finale
September 18, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Blaine, Minnesota (Saturday, September 16, 2006) - The Bismarck Bobcats spotted the Mahoning Valley Phantoms an early goal before reeling off four straight of their own; only to see them withstand a furious Phantoms rally before holding on for a 4-3 win.
Chris Fairbanks scored twice for the Phantoms (1-3) and Alden Hirschfeld added a goal, but both players would each have an additional scoring chance that was denied by lady luck.
Fairbanks gave his team the 1-0 lead at 4:09 of the opening period. Miles Winter's turnaround shot in the slot was deflected by Bismarck goaltender Clark Oliver. The rebound was gathered by Fairbanks near the right post. His first shot was stopped as well, but then stuffed the puck between the legs of Oliver on his second chance.
Bismarck would tie the game later in the period, two seconds after a Phantoms penalty to Matt Atsoff expired. Bobcats defenseman Brent Broderson knelt on one knee to stop a Phantoms clearing attempt at the top of the left circle. He passed ahead to Ben Bengston, who then backhanded the puck through traffic and past Phantoms netminder Bryce Merriam at the 11:32 mark for his first goal of the season. It marked the second consecutive game that an opponent scored immediately following the end of a Phantoms penalty.
Ryan Kayfes would give the Bobcats the lead for good after both teams exchanged possessions in the neutral zone. The puck popped high in the air and was secured by Kayfes just outside of the Phantoms blue line. He skated into the zone and unloaded a rising slapshot that beat Merriam on the glove side to make it 2-1 at 13:24 of the second period.
Shortly thereafter, defenseman Alex Olson made the biggest save of the game to preserve the Bobcats lead; and he didn't even see it.
After Oliver made a save from the side of the net, the puck deflected to Hirschfeld in front. With his back to the net and Oliver out of position, Hirschfeld turned around to his forehand and into the slot and had what he thought was a sure goal. He floated a wrist shot that hit the back of Olson's left leg as he stood in the crease and facing the net. The deflection was cleared to the side boards and out of danger.
Bismarck added to the lead before the end of the period on the power play. Alex North's slapshot from the right point was redirected in the air by Ross Janecyk with 2:08 remaining to make it 3-1.
David Kirsch scored a second straight Bismarck goal with the man advantage early in the third period. After Merriam made an initial save from Brett Calhoun's shot from the left point, Kirsch outhustled two Phantoms to the rebound in front and scored at the 3:31 mark of the third period for a 4-1 Bobcats lead.
The Phantoms would then begin their comeback. On the power play, Doug Leaverton found Fairbanks in the right circle. His shot beat Oliver high on the stick side for his team-leading third goal of the season. With 12:57 remaining in regulation, it was now 4-2.
Hirschfeld would pull the Phantoms within a goal on a spectacular individual effort. Bismarck center Joseph Robert won a faceoff in the left circle inside the Phantoms zone. As he tried to steer the puck back to the point, Alden stole the puck and skated down the right wing on a two-on-two. Defenseman Alex North prevented a pass or shot and forced Hirschfeld behind the goal where he checked him into the boards and separated the puck off his stick.
But Hirschfeld absorbed the hit, beat North to the loose puck and skated in front of the net from the left and slipped a backhand between the legs of Oliver. It was Hirschfeld's first goal of the season and came with 10:48 to go in the period.
The Phantoms had two big chances to tie it in the final minutes. Mike Fillinger found Matt Quigley in front of the net with less than six minutes to go, but the redirect attempt went of the end of Quigley's stick and wide of the goal.
Then, with four minutes left and on the power play, Eric Ringel's wrist shot from the left point was redirected by Fairbanks in front, which beat Oliver on the glove side, but squarely hit the post.
The Phantoms pulled Merriam for an extra attacker in the final minute, but could not get the puck on net in an effort to tie the game.
For the game, the Phantoms outshot Bismarck 34-26 as Merriam fell to 1-1, making 22 saves. The Bobcats were 2 for 6 on the power play while the Phantoms finished 1 for 6.
The Phantoms season-opening 16-game road trip continues this Friday when they travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan to face the undefeated U.S. National Under-18 Team. The puck drops at 7:00pm.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 18, 2006
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- Willms, Ritter named NAHL Players of the Week - NAHL
- Bobcats Scratch to 3-1 in Showcase - Bismarck Bobcats
- Team USA wins NAHL Showcase Tournament - NAHL
- Innovative Promotions Enhance FM Jets' Home Schedule - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- FM Jets Start Season with 2-2 Record at Showcase - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Phantoms drop Showcase finale - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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