Phantoms hang tough in North Division despite 1-1-1 week
Published on December 3, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Despite losing two of three last week and registering only two wins in its last six contests, the Youngstown Phantoms remain in second place in the North Division of the NAHL -- just two points behind the USA National Team, who face the Phantoms in a two game showdown this weekend.
Youngstown has been able to keep pace on the strength of having registered at least one point in the standings in nine of their last 11 contests.
After losing last Wednesday to Toledo in a shootout, the Phantoms returned from Thanksgiving to split a pair of games with the Soo Indians over the weekend at The Ice Zone.
In their victorious Friday night encounter, the Phantoms got first-period goals from Chris Smith (pictured above) and Rob Rassey, and then held on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Indians.
The Smith tally, which came at the 8:58 mark of the opening period, was the first goal of the game. Then Rassey registered his team-leading 13th goal of the season at 14:33 to give Youngstown a 2-0 lead. At that point, Soo goaltender Troy Redmann was removed from the game and his replacement -- Jason Kearney -- blanked the Phantoms the rest of the way, stopping all 17 shots he faced.
The only Indians' goal was scored by Glen Yliatalo at the 18:34 mark of the second period as Youngstown goaltender Tommy O'Brien stopped 27 shots and improved his personal record to 5-1-0.
A night later, however, Drew Satterly scored a pair of goals to lead the Indians to a 4-0 win over the Phantoms. Soo goaltender Jason Kearney stopped all 22 shots he faced as the Phantoms were shut out for the second time this season. The Indians got first-period goals by Satterly and Matthew Buckley, and then increased their advantage to 4-0 in the second period on a power-play tally by Satterly and a breakaway goal by Ray Kaunisto.
With the victory, the Soo -- who outshot Youngstown Saturday night, 40-22 -- earned a split of the weekend series. Youngstown was held without a goal for five straight periods over two nights after scoring twice in the opening period on Friday.
The week began on a tough note for the Phantoms, when they dropped a 4-3 decision on the road against the Toledo Ice Diggers in an overtime shootout on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Three goals by Ross Enmark -- two during regulation play and one in the shootout -- lifted Toledo to its first victory over Youngstown this season. The Phantoms had won all five of their previous meetings with the Ice Diggers this season.
Youngstown did pick up a point in the standings as a result of the regulation tie. In their previous contest, the Phantoms fell to the first-place USA National Team by a score of 2-1 in another overtime shootout.
Wednesday's game was tied 1-1 after the opening period as Youngstown's Kyle Laughlin and Toledo's Enmark registered the goals. The Ice Diggers had a 3-2 advantage late in the second period before Dale Michonski of the Phantoms tied the score by ripping a shot in the slot past goaltender Justin Marriott at 17:59. Neither team managed to score during the third period or in the five-minute overtime session -- although Youngstown out-shot Toledo, 48-28, on the night.
Phantoms' goaltender Tommy O'Brien stopped the Ice Diggers' first three attempts during the shootout before Enmark put the puck in the net for the decisive goal. Youngstown went 0-for-5 in the shootout, and when Marriott made the save on Rob Rassey -- the last Youngstown shooter -- the game was over.
Youngstown will return to action when it hosts a pair of critical games against the USA National Team at The Ice Zone next Friday and Saturday, December 3 and 4. Opening face-off for both contests is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tickets for those games -- and all Phantoms' home games -- are available by calling (330) 965-7500 or visiting The Ice Zone, which is located at 360 McClurg Road in Boardman. Tickets are also available at the door on game nights.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2004
- Kearney's seven shutout periods earn share of Defensive Player of the Week - Soo Indians
- Bandits sweep holiday weekend with three wins - St. Louis Bandits
- Jr. Blues Cankar emerges as team leader - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Sellout crowds, more wins for Tornado - Texas Tornado
- Rollercoaster weekend for Wildcats - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Bighorns sweep weekend, set record - Helena Bighorns
- Halted game in Wahpeton coast Jets first place - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Enmark's hat trick leads Toledo past Youngstown - Alpena IceDiggers
- Phantoms hang tough in North Division despite 1-1-1 week - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Wildcats add renowned educational psychologist to staff - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Icedogs vs. Minnesota tonight, Billings tomorrow - Bozeman Icedogs
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