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Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 11

December 4, 2012 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After a week off to rest and recharge, the Youngstown Phantoms return to action with a three-day, three-game road trip, pitting them against some of the United States Hockey League's best. The Phantoms (9-11-0, 18 points) face the league-leading Dubuque Fighting Saints Friday and Saturday night in Iowa, and close out against the Chicago Steel in Bensenville, Ill.

Loose Pucks

-- The Phantoms have five players - forwards Sam Anas, Austin Cangelosi, Kyle Connor and John Padulo and defenseman Ryan Lowney - who carry point streaks of at least four games into this weekend's road trip.

-- Padulo has recorded eight assists in his last five games and has 14 on the season - just five short of his season total of 19 from last season.

-- Veteran forward Markus McCrea had his three-game goal-scoring streak snapped against Nov. 24 against Team USA. But after scoring just eight goals in 51 games last season for the Lincoln Stars, McCrea has seven goals in 20 games with the Phantoms this season.

The Week Ahead

Games No. 21 & 22: Fri., Dec. 7 at 8:35 p.m. EST & Sat., Dec. 8 at 8:05 p.m. - Phantoms at Dubuque

The Phantoms face the USHL's top team Friday and Saturday at Dubuque's Mystique Community Ice Center. Earlier this season, the Fighting Saints (17-3-1, 35 points) handed the Phantoms a pair of losses at the Covelli Centre that started the team on a seven-game slide down the Eastern Conference standings. Dubuque was shutout for the first time last Friday in Waterloo before salvaging a weekend spit with a 5-1 win over Cedar Rapids the following night. Youngstown - although idle last weekend - has been red-hot riding a four-game winning streak, outscoring its opponents 20-6 over the span. The Phantoms also bring a two-game road winning streak at Mystique into the weekend series.

Game No. 23: Sunday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Chicago

The Phantoms wrap up their three-in-three Sunday afternoon against the Steel (11-6-2, 24 points). It is the first of nine meetings slated this season between the conference rivals. In his second-year behind the bench, Scott McConnell has orchestrated quite a turnaround for Chicago, which finished three points out of the playoffs last season, but has a six-point edge on Youngstown coming into the weekend. The Steel have had to face obstacles of their own, however, with top forward Mackenzie MacEachern, a third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, sidelined since late October with concussion symptoms. Despite his absence, Chicago picked up a marquee 3-1 win over Waterloo last weekend and Jaccob Slavin, another NHL draft pick (Carolina), leads one of the most experienced defense corps in the USHL.

They Said It

"Playing with those two guys is really easy. You just feed off them. If you get to the open areas, they'll find you."

-- Phantoms right wing John Padulo on linemates Austin Cangelosi and Kyle Connor.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Austin Cangelosi (8-12-20)

Goals: Sam Anas, Cangelosi (8)

Assists: John Padulo (14, T-fifth in USHL)

Power-Play Goals: Five players tied (2)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi, Ryan Lowney (1)

Plus/Minus: Dan Renouf (plus-12)

Penalty Minutes: Jimmy Mazza (52)

Points by a Defenseman: Ryan Lowney (3-10-13)

Wins: Sean Romeo (7)

Goals Against Average: Romeo (.895)

Save Percentage: Romeo (3.19)

Shutouts: Romeo (2, T-second in USHL)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Minnesota State forward Dylan Margonari (2010-12) scored a goal and added two assists over a pair of games last weekend as the Mavericks swept Bemidji State, winning 3-0 Friday and 6-1 Saturday. The former Phantoms assistant captain has recorded at least a point in five straight games and he leads all Minnesota State freshmen in scoring with 4-5-9 in 12 games played.

-- Bemidji State forward Danny Mattson (2010-11) scored the Beavers' lone goal over the weekend.

-- Boston goaltender Matthew O'Connor (2010-12) picked up his sixth win of the season Friday as the No. 7 Terriers upset rival Boston College, which had been ranked No. 1. O'Connor, the Phantoms all-time leader in wins, allowed two goals on 37 shots in Friday's 4-2 victory.

-- Wisconsin forward Jefferson Dahl (2009-10) scored the game-winning goal as the Badgers downed No. 6 Denver 3-1 Saturday.

-- Minnesota forward Tommy Serratore (2009-10) and Nebraska-Omaha defensemen Andrej Sustr (2009-10) both scored goals Saturday, but Serratore's No. 5 Gophers came away on top with a 3-2 win over the No. 14 Mavericks.

-- Mercyhurst goaltender Jordan Tibbett (2009-11) came on in relief less than six minutes into the game and surrendered just one goal on 25 shots to backstop the Lakers to a 5-4 come-from-behind win Friday.

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-10) registered an assist in the Eagles' 3-2 loss to Army Thursday. The third-year forward is No. 3 in the nation in scoring, and leads the Atlantic Hockey Conference, with 8-14-22 in 13 games this season.

Season tickets for the 2012-13 season are on sale now starting at the low price of just $7 a game. Benefits include invitations to exclusive season ticket holder events, discounts at the Phantoms Team Shop, playoff priority and much more. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter ( @YtownPhantoms ) and "˜like' them on Facebook ( www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms ).

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