Phantoms Get Split In Motor City
November 8, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
WYANDOTTE, MI - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms found themselves facing another third period deficit in a series finale, and this time they were unable to close the gap as they fell to the Motor City Machine 3-2.
The Phantoms entered the third down 3-1, but dominated play through the entire final frame, out-shooting Motor City 12-3 in the period. Stefan Salituro's second goal of the night at the 10:53 mark cut the lead to 3-2 but the Phantoms would not be able to find the equalizer in the last ten minutes.
The win snapped a 13-game losing streak for the Machine, who had been winless since September 20th.
Salituro's first goal came when he stuffed the puck between the legs of Motor City goalie Joe Rodgers with 6:25 left in the first period. That tally cut the Machine lead to 2-1 at the time.
The Machine built an early 2-0 lead on first period goals from Jared Williams and Nick Taurence.
In the second period, Josh Bussell-acquired by the Machine earlier in the week via trade-scored his sixth of the season, beating Phantoms netminder Garrett Bartus stick-side with a snap shot in transition. That goal would stand up as the game-winner for the Machine.
Bartus (3-2-2) finished with 15 saves on 18 shots for the Phantoms in the loss; Rodgers (2-5-0) turned aside 24 of 26 Phantoms shots for the victorious Machine.
Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill, each negating six opposition power plays on the night.
The weekend split vaults the Phantoms (9-4-2, 20 pts) into second place in the North Division over idle Team USA (9-6-1, 19 pts). Traverse City, also idle, remains atop the division at 13-4-0 (26 pts).
The Phantoms return to action on Friday when they play their Chevrolet Centre opener against the St. Louis Bandits in a rematch of the last two Robertson Cup finals. The curtain rises on the Phantoms' Chevrolet Centre schedule at 7:15 PM Friday night.
Season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information. The Phantoms will be holding a Meet the Team event at the Chevrolet Centre from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM on Monday, November 10th.
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North American Hockey League Stories from November 8, 2008
- Grogan earns Bobcats win - Bismarck Bobcats
- Misiak Machine's Motor City over the Thunder, 2-1 in a Shootout - Motor City Metal Jackets
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Tops FIN, 3-2, in 4 Nations Cup Final - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms Get Split In Motor City - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. Junior Select Team Tops Canada East, 5-1 - U.S. National Team
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Falls to Russia, 5-4 - U.S. National Team
- Machine Lose Battle with Phantoms, 4-1 - Motor City Metal Jackets
- St. Louis Edges Jr. Blues Again; Round Two Tonight At Nelson Center - Springfield Jr. Blues
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