Phantoms net franchise record 35th win
February 9, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ALPENA, Mich. - Ryan Zapolski made 36 saves and Chris Fairbanks scored once and added two assists to lead the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to a 4-2 win over the Alpena Ice Diggers at Northern Lights Arena.
With the strength of three power play goals, the Phantoms set a franchise record with their 35th regular season win (35-10-1), eclipsing the mark they set last season.
The Phantoms began the game by peppering Alpena goaltender Mike Jarboe with five shots in the first two minutes and maintained their pressure during the period.
When Ice Diggers newcomer Dustin King cross-checked Phantoms defenseman Mike Sturdevant from behind, the Phantoms seized the first power play of the game and took advantage.
Miles Winter skated around two Ice Diggers on the left wing and into the Alpena zone. After peeling to the side boards, Winter found Fairbanks charging in from the right point for a two-on-one.
Fairbanks fed a pass to Matt Quigley on the goal line. Quigley's initial shot was stopped by Jarboe, but Quigley gathered the rebound and stuffed it around the goaltender's left skate for his 18th goal of the season.
With 6:36 left in the period, the Phantoms led 1-0. They extended their lead with two goals early in the second period.
After Alden Hirschfeld had his shot blocked, Fairbanks found Derek Graham trailing in the right circle. Instead of shooting, Graham passed back to Fairbanks, who skated uncovered to the goal line.
Fairbanks slipped the puck under Jarboe for his 20th goal of the season at the 1:41 mark. At 3:25, the Phantoms made it 3-0 with their second power play goal in as many attempts.
Hirschfeld's breakaway attempt was poke-checked away by Jarboe. The rebound sat in the left circle, long enough for Hirschfeld to retrieve the puck.
He quickly fed Graham in front, who tapped the puck over to Brent Dexter on the right post. Dexter roofed the puck out of Jarboe's reach for his 17th tally of the season, and the Phantoms were seemingly in control.
Alpena, 30-14-2, bounced back when King poke-checked an errant Phantoms pass into the neutral zone and out-skated three Phantoms for a breakaway goal. He slipped the puck under Zapolski at 11:39 of the period to get the Ice Diggers on the board.
The Ice Diggers drew within 3-2 on a power play goal of their own. Nolan Craner skated into the right circle with the puck before finding Kerry Bence in front of the net.
Bence redirected the puck between Zapolski's legs with 4:25 remaining.
Once again, the Phantoms power play units clicked again for a big insurance goal early in the third period. Fairbanks took a pass from Dustin Cloutier on the right point before locating Winter in the left circle.
Winter ripped a low wrist shot past the right skate of Jarboe on the short side. At 1:06 of the period, the Phantoms regained a two-goal advantage on Winter's 16th goal of the season.
The Phantoms out-shot Alpena 42-38. On the power play, the Phantoms finished 3 for 5 while the Ice Diggers were 1 for 4.
The Phantoms and the Ice Diggers conclude their weekend series on Saturday at Northern Lights Arena. Face-off is at 7 p.m. and will be webcast on www.mvpphantoms.com.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company- Phantom Fireworks, which is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2007
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