USHL Youngstown Phantoms

PHANTOMS NOTEBOOK: Week No. 24

Published on March 5, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Youngstown Phantoms stayed red hot over the week, closing out an undefeated five-game homestand with a pair of wins over the Chicago Steel and a thrilling come-from-behind overtime victory over the Tri-City Storm. The Phantoms (28-20-0, 56 points) take their five-game winning streak on the road this weekend when they take on the defending Clark Cup champion Green Bay Gamblers Sunday in Wisconsin.

The Week In Review

Game No. 46: Cangelosi Nets 3, Romeo Turns Away All 24 And Phantoms Blank Steel 4-0

Captain Austin Cangelosi returned from a four-game suspension Wednesday morning and made up for lost time, netting his second career hat trick - tallying one goal in each period - to power the Phantoms to a 4-0 win over the rival Steel (21-25-4, 46 points) in their annual School Day Game. First-year forward Kyle Connor also scored for Youngstown, his second in as many games, while goaltender Sean Romeo turned away 24 shots to notch his fifth shutout of the season.

Game No. 47: Phantoms Make It 4 In A Row With 3-2 Shootout Win Over Chicago

The Phantoms entered the first intermission trailing 1-0, but got a short-handed goal from defenseman Eric Sweetman two minutes into the second to tie it up. Right wing Sam Anas put Youngstown in front 2-1 midway through the middle period, but Chicago's Charlie O'Connor forced overtime with a late third-period goal. Neither team could find the back of the net in OT, requiring a shootout to decided the winner and Cangelosi scored in the bottom of the third round to clinch the 3-2 victory for the Phantoms. Romeo picked up his 23rd win of the season as the Youngstown improved to 4-0-0 vs. the Eastern Conference rival in 2012-13.

Game No. 48: Anas Completes Comeback In OT, Phantoms Down Storm 5-4 For 5th Straight Win

The Phantoms scored four times in the third period, including three unanswered over the final 11 minutes, to force overtime with Tri-City (20-24-6, 46 points). Markus McCrea got Youngstown on the board four minutes into the third, but the Storm took a commanding 4-1 lead with on a short-handed goal from Ben Foster before the nine-minute mark. The Phantoms followed with three straight power play goals from Anas, John Padulo and Alfred Larsson respectively to get the game to overtime. Then with just 27 seconds remaining in the extra frame, Anas netted his second goal of the night, and team-leading 26th of the season, to complete the come-from-behind win. Between the pipes, Jake Moore made 18 saves to improve to 3-0-0 as a starter and stretch the Phantoms' winning streak to five games.

Loose Pucks

-- Monday Romeo was named the USHL's Reebok Goaltender of the Week after posting two wins, a shutout, a .961 save percentage and miniscule 0.96 goals against average over both of his starts. It's the second straight week, third time this season and fourth time in his career that Romeo has earned the USHL's weekly honors.

-- How hot are the Phantoms? On top of their current five-game winning streak, the Phantoms have won eight of their last nine games and are 17-5-0 over their last 22 games. After going undefeated on their latest homestand, they have now won a franchise record six straight games at the Covelli Centre.

-- After going to overtime just once in their first 33 games, the Phantoms have now gone to overtime or a shootout in three of their last four, and a combined six times since Jan. 18. That hasn't been a bad thing as Youngstown has gone 2-0 in overtime and 5-0 in the shootout this season.

-- Although Anas, Cangelosi and Romeo may have captured most of the accolades over the Phantoms' undefeated homestand, Larsson quietly had himself a very productive five games. The Swedish center scored three goals and added an assist over the five games to bring his season total to 7-9-16. Youngstown is 11-2-0 when Larsson records a point.

The Week Ahead

Game No. 49: Sunday, March 10 at 4:05 p.m. EST - Phantoms at Green Bay

The fourth-place Phantoms have the opportunity to make up some ground against third-place Gamblers (29-17-3, 61 points) Sunday afternoon in Green Bay, Wis. Youngstown went winless in a pair of games at the Resch Center earlier this season, but won in their latest meeting 5-2 on Feb. 8 at the Covelli Centre thanks to a four-goal outburst in the third period. The Gamblers followed that defeat by rattling off five straight wins, but have dropped their last three games, including a home-and-home set with the Western Conference leading Sioux Falls Stampede and most recently, a Sunday defeat at the hands of Team USA. Green Bay has managed just one goal in each of those three losses, well below its 3.76 goals per game average this season.

They Said It

"Giving up the short-handed goal was kind of a dagger in the side, but there's going to be adversity throughout the season. I think we handled it very well. We just chipped away one-at-a-time and our power play finally started clicking ... Today was a big step in the right direction. I really can't compliment every guy in the locker room enough."

-- Right wing John Padulo on the Phantoms come-from-behind victory Saturday vs. Tri-City.

Phantoms Leaders

Points: Austin Cangelosi (14-31-45)

Goals: Sam Anas (26, T-fifth in USHL)

Assists: Cangelosi (31)

Power-Play Goals: Anas (8)

Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi, Josh Nenadal, Dan Renouf (2, T-fifth in USHL)

Plus/Minus: Renouf (plus-23)

Penalty Minutes: John Padulo (129)

Points by a Defenseman: Ryan Lowney (6-23-29, fourth in USHL)

Wins: Sean Romeo (23, T-second in USHL)

Goals Against Average: Romeo (2.71)

Save Percentage: Romeo (.910)

Shutouts: Romeo (5, second in USHL)

Phantoms Alumni Watch

-- Denver forward Ty Loney (2010-11) notched a goal and added an assist as the No. 11 Pioneers shutout No. 2 Minnesota 2-0 Friday. Defenseman Scott Mayfield (2009-11) scored the lone goal as Denver dropped the second of the set 5-1 the following night.

-- Maine forward Stu Higgins (2009-11) registered a pair of assists as the Black Bears tied conference rival Northeastern 4-4 Saturday.

-- Bentley forward Brett Gensler (2009-10) tallied a pair of assists in a losing effort Saturday as the Falcons fell to American International 4-3 in overtime.

-- Bemidji State forward Danny Mattson (2010-11) put up a pair of points over a pair of games against No. 5 North Dakota. Mattson recorded an assist Friday in a 4-1 Beavers' loss and scored a goal Saturday in a 2-2 tie.

-- Minnesota State forward Dylan Margonari (2010-12) scored the lone goal for the No. 10 Mavericks in a 4-1 loss to Colorado College Friday.

-- Boston College forward Quinn Smith (2010-11) scored the only goal for the No. 6 Eagles as they dropped conference game vs. Providence 5-1 Saturday.

-- Nebraska-Omaha defenseman Andrej Sustr (2009-10) blasted in a goal as the Mavericks fell to Wisconsin 4-3 Friday.

-- Rensselaer defenseman Chris Bradley (2010-12) added an assist as the Engineers downed St. Lawrence 4-1 Saturday.

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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United States Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2013


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