Phantoms Finish a Franchise Best 3-0-1 at Showcase
September 20, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BLAINE, MN (Saturday, September 20th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms bounced back Saturday to clobber the Bismarck Bobcats 5-1 for their third win at the Sherwood NAHL Showcase.
Goaltender Jordan Tibbett stopped 35 of 36 Bismarck shots as he improved to 2-0-0 on the season, keeping his season goals against average at an impressive 1.00. Tibbett credited his blueliners with helping him see everything coming his way.
"The defense did a great job blocking shots and what they didn't block they gave me a great look at," said Tibbett, adding, "the 'D' has had a great Showcase."
It was another solid effort for the Phantoms' special teams as they scored twice on the power play while shutting down the Bobcat power play on all six attempts. The Phantoms have now killed off 22 straight power plays dating back to the first period against North Iowa on Thursday.
"The penalty kill is going to be something we need if we want to be successful," said head coach and general manager Bob Mainhardt, "and the guys are doing a great job killing those penalties."
Despite the wide margin of victory, the Phantoms had to come back to win Saturday's contest as Bismarck forward Cody Keefer's fourth goal of the year gave Bismarck a 1-0 lead in the first.
Seven minutes later, the Phantoms would even it up as Michael Pateras slapped a rebound past Bobcat goalie Matt Grogan. Brandon Saad added a power play marker just over a minute later to give the Phantoms a lead they would never relinquish.
Cole Schneider added the lone tally in the second period, tipping a Christian Long centering feed past Grogan for a little breathing room. Schneider would finish with three points, adding a pair of assists to the goal.
The score would stay 3-1 until the final two minutes of the game when Cullen Lundholm wired a slapshot past Grogan on the power play with 1:20 left. Alex Lippincott's second goal of the year came 52 seconds later as he snapped an Erik Higby pass through Grogan's legs for the final margin.
The seven points gained from going 3-0-1 in Blaine is the Phantoms' best showing at the annual event in team history, topping last season's 3-1-0 mark. The win also keeps the Phantoms a point ahead of Traverse City for first place in the North Division. The North Starts finished the Showcase 3-1-0.
"It's a good start," said Mainhardt, "but now we've got to back it up. We need to continue to build; we need to continue to improve."
The Phantoms have next weekend off before continuing the 2008-09 campaign at Detroit's Motor City Machine.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 20, 2008
- Stars exit Blaine at 3-1-0 - Traverse City North Stars
- Phantoms Finish a Franchise Best 3-0-1 at Showcase - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Tops North Iowa, 8-4 - U.S. National Team
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Topeka, 3-2 - U.S. National Team
- Stars close Showcase with win - Traverse City North Stars
- Jr. Blues Beat Mahoning Valley In Shootout; Improve to 2-1 on Season - Springfield Jr. Blues
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