Phantoms Fall 2-1 in Overtime to Green Bay
April 4, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown, OH - The Youngstown Phantoms (29-19-6-4, 68pts) fell 2-1 at the hands of the Green Bay Gamblers in a defensive battle Thursday Night at the Covelli Centre. Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward loved the way his team battled to grab a point on the night.
"Super proud of our guys, I thought they played really hard all night," Ward said. "I thought 5-on-5 we were excellent. Super proud of the guys, they battled their butts off and tying it up late was a huge point for us."
The first frame started slow for both teams as each team only logged five shots. Geno Carcone secured the period's lone goal at 5:42 when he took advantage of a Phantoms penalty and finished a blocked pass off a diving Jack Willson in front of the crease to give the visitors the lead. Phantoms captain Andrew Strathmann and Gamblers forward Ben Poitras dropped the gloves with 6:47 left in the period, but the bout did little to lift the play of either side and Youngstown went to the locker room trailing 1-0 at the first intermission.
The final two frames were like the first, littered with great netminding and physical defense. Youngstown seemed to warm to the task in the second, outshooting Green Bay 20-12 over the final two periods, but still could not find a way to get anything behind Adam Gajan. The Phantoms kept pushing, however, and their hard work paid off. Tomas Machu came up clutch with just 48.3 seconds remaining as he cashed in a wrister from the right circle to tie the contest at one after Aiden Wright was pulled in favor of an extra Phantom attacker. Machu's goal was the Islander draft pick's first of the season.
Overtime in Youngstown was over quickly, with the home team not even possessing the puck. Green Bay needed just 1:25 in the bonus frame before forward Mikey Deangelo pressured the net, avoided a Wright poke check, flashed nifty stick work, and lifted a shot over the down-and-out Phantoms netminder to give the Gamblers the 2-1 victory.
Wright stopped 17 of 19 in a great showing despite the loss. Gajan denied 24 of the 25 Phantom shots sent his way.
The Phantoms play host to Green Bay again tomorrow night for the second game of the three-in-three weekend series between the two. Puck drop is slated for 7:05 on Jimmy Buffett Night at the Covelli Centre.
By the Numbers
Shots - 25
Saves - 17
Power Play - 0/2
Penalty Kill - 1/2
Goals - Machu
Assists - de Haro
Box Score - https://ushl.com/ht/#/game-summary/11267
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