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Phantoms Notebook: Week No. 20

February 5, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL) - Youngstown Phantoms News Release

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - With an arduous three-game road trip behind them, the Youngstown Phantoms return to the Mahoning Valley for a brief one-game homestand before loading the bus back up. The Phantoms (20-19-0, 40 points) will host the defending Clark Cup champion Green Bay Gamblers Friday at the Covelli Centre and then travel to Indianapolis to take on the conference rival Indiana Ice Sunday.

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Game No. 37: Romeo's 41 Saves Not Enough As Phantoms Fall Short Against Team USA

Team USA (10-23-4, 24 points) peppered Sean Romeo with shots Thursday night but the third-year goaltender was more than up to task. Unfortunately, the Phantoms struggled to capitalize on chances at the other end and, despite a third-period push, fell to the U.S. National Under-18 Team 3-2. Romeo finished the night with 41 saves off 44 shots and turned away a penalty shot as well, but was saddled with the loss. Sam Anas and Markus McCrea both found the back of the net as the Phantoms dropped the first of their three-game road trip.

Game No. 38: Resilient Phantoms Come Back, Down "˜Jacks 5-4 In Shootout

The Muskegon Lumberjacks (22-14-8, 52 points) took the lead early Friday night but the Phantoms fought back to tie the score four separate times to force overtime and eventually a shootout. Then in the fourth round of the shootout, Nathan Walker and Romeo rose to the occasion to secure a 5-4 win. Ryan Lowney and Luke Stork led the way for Youngstown with a goal and an assist each while Austin Cangelosi chipped in with a pair of helpers. Alexander Dahl also found the back of the net and Eric Sweetman scored a crucial goal 5:31 into the third to knot the game up at 4-4. Romeo finished with 30 saves to pick up his 16th win of the season.

Game No. 39: Padulo Pots A Pair But Phantoms Feel Road Woes In 5-2 Loss To RoughRiders

The rigors of the road caught up to the Youngstown Phantoms Saturday night at the Stable. The Phantoms grabbed the game's first goal but could not hold onto the lead as the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (16-20-5, 37 points) followed with four unanswered and went on to win 5-2. John Padulo scored both goals and Kyle Connor notched a pair of assists for Youngstown as it dropped the final game of its three-day road trip. Romeo surrendered four goals on 19 shots and was tagged with the loss.

LOOSE PUCKS

-- After becoming the Phantoms franchise's all-time points leader earlier this season, center Austin Cangelosi has the chance to reach the 100-point plateau this weekend. The Boston College commit has 98 career points (40 goals, 58 assists) in 88 career games heading into this Friday's meeting with the Gamblers.

-- Left wing Nathan Walker was held off the score sheet for the first time in his USHL career last Friday night in Muskegon. Despite that, the Australian winger still came up big when the Phantoms needed him, scoring the game-winning goal in the fourth round of a shootout.

-- Defenseman Ryan Lowney continued to rack up the points against the Lumberjacks, scoring a goal and adding an assist last Friday in Muskegon. The Redford, Mich. native has put up 4-3-7 in four games against the "˜Jacks.

-- Right wing Sam Anas has been steadily climbing the USHL goal leaders' list with eight goals over his last eight games. He could vault himself even higher on the list this weekend as the Potomac, Md. native has scored five goals vs. the Ice and two goals vs. the Gamblers this season.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Game No. 40: Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:15 p.m. EST - Phantoms vs. Gamblers

The third-place Gamblers (24-13-3, 51 points) make their first trip to the Covelli Centre since mid-November this Friday. Green Bay has taken all four meetings with Youngstown this season, most recently a 3-2 win on Nov. 11. Luke Stork led the way for the Phantoms with a pair of goals in that game and since they have gone 15-8-0. The Gamblers have a high-powered offense led by Kyle Novak (19 goals, 33 assists and 52 points) and Nicholas Schilkey (20-19-39) but will have to rely on the inexperienced tandem of Richard Ullberg and Tony Kujava between the pipes after trading away veteran netminder Michael Rotolo to Cedar Rapids Monday.

Game No. 41: Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Indiana

The Phantoms and Ice (16-25-3, 35 points) meet for the sixth time this season but for just the second time in Indianapolis. The Ice held off a furious comeback attempt from the Phantoms when they last me Sept. 26 at the Covelli Centre, but dropped both of their games last weekend. Although Indiana trails Youngstown by just five points in the Eastern Conference standings, it has played five more games and appears to have set its sights on the future after trading away leading scorer Austin Ortega to Fargo Tuesday.

THEY SAID IT

"Honestly, that's as fun a game as I can remember being a part of here. The third period was as good as we've played all year and I think it rolled into overtime. Even when we had our backs against the wall in the shootout, you kind of felt like we deserved it - like something good was to happen."

-- Head coach Anthony Noreen on the Phantoms' 5-4 shootout win over Muskegon Saturday.

PHANTOMS LEADERS

Points: Austin Cangelosi (11-28-39)

Goals: Sam Anas (20)

Assists: Cangelosi (28)

Power-Play Goals: Anas (7, T-fourth in USHL)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi (2, T-fifth in USHL)

Plus/Minus: Dan Renouf (plus-19)

Penalty Minutes: John Padulo (105)

Points by a Defenseman: Ryan Lowney (6-20-26, T-third in USHL)

Wins: Sean Romeo (16, T-fourth in USHL)

Goals Against Average: Romeo (.299)

Save Percentage: Romeo (.902)

Shutouts: Romeo (4, second in USHL)

PHANTOMS ALUMNI WATCH

-- Boston College forward Quinn Smith (2010-11) scored a pair of goals to lead the Golden Eagles to a 4-1 win over Harvard in the Beanpot semifinal Monday. Smith and BC will face former Phantoms Ryan Belonger (2010-12) and Mike Gunn (2011-12) and Northeastern in the Beanpot championship game next Monday, Feb. 11 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.

-- Nebraska-Omaha defenseman Andrej Sustr (2009-10) notched a goal and an assist Friday as the No. 14 Mavericks downed Michigan Tech 4-3.

-- Bowling Green forward Adam Berkle (2009-11) recorded a pair of assists over the weekend as the Eagles swept Lake Superior, winning 4-1 Friday and 7-3 Saturday.

-- Miami of Ohio forward Alex Gacek (2010-12) had an assist as the No. 3 RedHawks cruised past Alaska Friday winning 4-1.

-- Denver forward Ty Loney (2010-11) added an assist Saturday as the No. 10 Pioneers defeated Minnesota-Duluth.

-- Michigan forward Andrew Sinelli recorded an assist as the Wolverines bear rival Michigan State 5-2 Saturday.

EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Friday, Feb. 8: K-105 Country Night and St. Vincent de Paul's Pregame Food Drive

The Phantoms are partnering with K-105 FM this Friday, Feb. 8 for Country Night at the Covelli Centre when the Phantoms take on the Green Bay Gamblers. Doug James, co-host of the Hometown Morning Show on K-105, will be on hand and each fan in attendance will be entered for a chance to win VIP tickets to see Rascal Flatts.

The Phantoms will also be holding a food drive to benefit St. Vincent de Paul's Society in conjunction with all the K-105 Country Night festivities. Bring two or more non-perishable food items to donate at the box office for the chance to purchase purple level tickets, normally $10, for a special discounted price of just $6!

Phantoms Flex Packages are on sale now starting at the low price of just $75. Flex Packages include 10 undated ticket vouchers that can be redeemed at any game and in any increment throughout the rest of the season. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve a Phantoms Flex Package 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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