USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week 20

Published on February 14, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After wrapping up their season series with the Muskegon Lumberjacks, the Youngstown Phantoms return to action this week with a pair of crucial USHL Eastern Conference games. The Phantoms (24-13-4, fourth East) take on the upstart Chicago Steel this Friday in the Covelli Centre before traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sunday, where they will look to secure their first win of the season over Team USA.

The Week In Review

Game 40: Phantoms Take First Of Home-And-Home With 'Jacks, 5-2

The Phantoms grabbed the lead early Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena, netting three goals before the 11-minute mark, and defeated the Lumberjacks 5-2. It was a chippy game, punctuated with four fights on the night, and it set the stage for the series finale on Sunday in the Covelli Centre. Austin Cangelosi scored a pair of goals and Sam Anas, Dylan Margonari and JT Stenglein also found the back of the net for the Phantoms. Goaltender Matthew O'Connor turned away 21 of 23 shots from the Lumberjacks (12-20-5, seventh East) to record his 21st win of the season.

Game 41: Phantoms Comeback Cut Short By Lumberjacks In Shootout

The Phantoms mounted a third-period comeback against the Lumberjacks only to fall in the five-round shootout Sunday afternoon in the Covelli Centre. The 4-3 loss snapped the Phantoms' three-game winning streak and secured a split in season series with the Lumberjacks. Margonari scored a pair of goals, including the game-tying-goal with 2:37 remaining in regulation, while Mike Ambrosia tallied the Phantoms' lone other. O'Connor made 17 saves on 20 shots in the losing effort.

Loose Pucks

-- Left wing Mike Ambrosia extended his point-scoring streak to 11 straight games with a goal and an assist over the weekend. It is the longest point-scoring streak in franchise history. He has three goals, 15 assists and 18 points over the span.

-- Center Austin Cangelosi had his point-scoring streak ended at 10 games on Sunday. On Friday, however, he equaled JT Stenglein's team-high six-game goal-scoring streak, which was set earlier this season. He also surpassed Stenglein for the Phantoms' goal-scoring lead with 21 on the season.

-- Center Dylan Margonari scored three goals and added an assist over the weekend to give him 14 goals and 25 points on the season. Nine of his points (4G-5A) have come against the Lumberjacks - more than any other Phantoms player.

-- The Phantoms are 4-0-1 since the return of defenseman Kevin Liss from a lower-body injury. The team went 5-7-2 during his 14-game absence. The Princeton commit has a plus-3 rating in those five games and has yet to have a minus night while playing with Chris Bradley on the Phantoms' top defensive pairing.

The Week Ahead

Game 42: Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Chicago

After falling to Chicago just once in their first two seasons in the USHL, the Phantoms have dropped their past two meetings with the Steel (13-27-1, eighth East) by identical 3-1 scores. However, since their victory over the Phantoms on Feb. 1, the Steel have dropped four straight, including three games last weekend at the hands of the first-place Green Bay Gamblers and the second-place Indiana Ice. They have not been able to muster more than two goals in a game during their current losing streak.

Game 43: Sunday, Feb. 19 at 3:30 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Team USA

Team USA (18-13-4, sixth East) remains the lone team in the USHL's Eastern Conference that the Phantoms have yet to taste victory against. The last three meetings, however, have been extremely close contests - two decided by just single goal and the most recent clinched by an empty-netter. Team USA has not played a USHL game since Jan. 28, and recently returned from Slovakia where it won the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament, outscoring its opponents 22-4 in three games.

They Said It

"There's no doubt Dylan is capable of playing in the NHL one day. There aren't many guys who can skate and compete the way Dylan does... He's gotten bigger, he's gotten stronger and now he's starting to fill out his frame a little bit. Now he's got the ability not only to blow past guys with his speed, but to overpower them with his strength to get to the net as well."

-- Phantoms Head Coach Anthony Noreen on the development of third-year center Dylan Margonari.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Mike Ambrosia (12G-35A-47PTS)

Goals: Austin Cangelosi (21)

Assists: Ambrosia (35, first in USHL)

Power-Play Goals: JT Stenglein (7)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi (6, first in USHL)

Points by a Defenseman: Chris Bradley (5G-8A-15PTS)

Plus/Minus: Cangelosi (plus-19)

Wins: Matthew O'Connor (21, second in USHL)

Goals Against Average: O'Connor (2.73)

Save Percentage: O'Connor (.909)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-2010) scored a pair of goals as the Falcons defeated American International 5-1 last Friday. He is currently the Atlantic Hockey Conference's leading scorer.

-- Denver defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009-2011) recorded an assist each night as the Pioneers swept Minnesota, winning 5-3 last Friday and 4-3 in overtime on Saturday.

-- Miami (Ohio) defenseman Ben Paulides (2009-2011) added an assist in each game as the RedHawks recorded a pair of victories over Alabama-Huntsville, winning 3-1 last Friday and 4-1 the following night.

-- Bemidji State forward Danny Mattson (2010-2011) scored a goal as Beavers defeated Colorado College 4-1 on last Saturday.

-- Boston College forward Quinn Smith (2010-2011) netted a goal as the Eagles routed Vermont 6-1 last Friday. On Monday Boston College downed Boston University 3-2 in overtime to capture the Beanpot Tournament title for the third straight year.

-- Mercyhurst goaltender Jordan Tibbett (2009-2011) turned away 31 of 32 shots as the Lakers defeated Robert Morris 3-1 last Friday.

Events and Promotions

Friday, Feb. 17: Disney XD "Lab Rats" Sneak Peek : The Phantoms are partnering with Radio Disney AM 1260 to provide a one-of-a-kind experience for fans at a Phantoms game this season. On Friday, Feb. 17, fans will have the chance to get an exclusive preview of the brand-new upcoming Disney XD series Lab Rats in the Covelli Centre before the Phantoms take on the Chicago Steel.

In addition to getting a sneak peek of Lab Rats before the show premieres, the Radio Disney AM 1260 Road Crew will be on hand with interactive entertainment and prizes for fans of all ages. The first 1,000 fans will also receive a free Lab Rats poster, courtesy of Radio Disney AM 1260. The Covelli Centre doors will open early at 5:30 p.m. EST and the exclusive premiere of Lab Rats will air at 6 p.m. on the video boards. The puck drops between the Phantoms and Steel at 7:15 p.m. EST.

Single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are on sale now. Season ticket and flex plans start at the low price of just $90. Call the Phantoms office today at 330.747.7825 for more information or to make a reservation today! For a complete Phantoms schedule, visit www.youngstownphantoms.com .

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2012


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