USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Notebook

Published on February 25, 2015 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


OVERVIEW: The Youngstown Phantoms (27-13-5) are coming off of three wins in four days over the weekend, extending their winning streak to an all-time high eight games in the process. They currently sit all alone in second place in the USHL's Eastern Conference

LAST WEEKEND RECAP

THURSDAY: The Phantoms picked up a 1-0 win over the Bloomington Thunder on Thursday night. Forward Max Letunov scored the lone goal for the Phantoms, while goaltender Chris Birdsall stopped all 27 shots he faced to collect his second shutout of the season.

After a scoreless opening period that saw both sides exchange some quality scoring opportunities, the Phantoms got on the board early in the second period while on the power play, when forward Kyle Connor fed Letunov in the slot, and Letunov blasted a one-timer past Thunder goaltender Hayden Lavigne, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0, 2:08 into the second period. Letunov has now scored in four consecutive games.

A few minutes later, Thunder defenseman Cameron Spicer took a shot from the point that was tipped into the net by forward Jacob Slaker, however the goal was waived off after it was determined the puck was knocked in by a high stick, and the Phantoms took their 1-0 lead into the locker room after 40 minutes.

Both teams came out firing in the third period, and the two sides exchanged a plethora of quality scoring opportunities, including a Bloomington breakaway that was stopped by Birdsall. With the goalie pulled, the Thunder mounted a late third period rush, however Birdsall stood tall and preserved the 1-0 win for the Phantoms.

SATURDAY: The Phantoms collected a 5-1 win over the Green Bay Gamblers on Saturday night. Forward Matt Alvaro scored a pair of goals, while forwards Connor, Kiefer Sherwood, and James Winkler each chipped in one.

The two sides were tied, 0-0, through 40 minutes, however the Phantoms' offense came to life in the third, as just 1:44 in, Sherwood came streaking down the right wing into the offensive zone where he skated around the net and banked the puck off of Green Bay goaltender Jason Pawloski into the net, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0.

That lead became 2-0 roughly two minutes later while on the power play, when Sherwood sent a pass to Connor who ripped it off the post and in past Pawloski, 3:51 into the third.

The Phantoms offense continued to click, as just 22 seconds later, forward Lukas Craggs took a shot that was initially turned aside by Pawloski, however Winkler was right there to stuff home the rebound, putting the Phantoms up, 3-0.

After a power play goal from Green Bay's Sam Miletic cut Youngstown's lead to 3-1, the Phantoms struck again when Alvaro crashed the net and jammed a loose puck past new Green Bay netminder Kevin Reich, extending the lead to 4-1 in favor of Youngstown, 8:56 into the frame.

Alvaro was not finished, as with just over six minutes left while shorthanded, forward Josh Nenadal poked the puck off of a Gamblers' stick, and Alvaro skated in all alone and beat Reich, capping the 5-1 win for the Phantoms.

SUNDAY: Youngstown wrapped up their three game weekend with an 8-5 win over the Gamblers on Sunday after noon. The Phantoms picked up right where they left off the night before, as just 3:43 into the opening period, forward Taylor Best launched a shot from the right wing circle that trickled in through the legs of Green Bay goaltender Adam Huska, putting the Phantoms up, 1-0.

That lead became 2-0 a few minutes later while on the power play, when forward Josh Melnick took a shot from the center blueline that was deflected in by forward Chase Pearson who was stationed out front, 7:04 into the first.

After a Green Bay goal from Marc Michaelis cut Youngstown's lead in half, 2-1, with two minutes left in the frame, the Phantoms struck again with 40 seconds left in the first. Defenseman Vas Kolias came over the Green Bay blueline and slid the puck to Winkler who was up on the 2-on-1 rush, and Winkler tapped it past Huska, putting the Phantoms ahead, 3-1.

Michaelis added his second of the period with 12 seconds left while on the power play, cutting the Phantoms' lead to 3-2 after 20 minutes.

The Phantoms' offense continued to fire on all cylinders in the second, as 4:11 in, Letunov sent a pass to Sherwood who skated into the offensive zone on a breakaway and flipped the puck past Huska, putting the Phantoms back up by two goals, 4-2.

That lead became 5-2 midway through the frame while on the power play, when Letunov crashed the net and slammed it in on the rebound, 9:59 into the second, chasing Huska from the game.

It didn't take long for the Phantoms to find the back of the net again, as just 1:31 later, Winkler took a shot that ricocheted off of new Green Bay goaltender Pawloski right to Best who jammed it in for his second of the game, giving the Phantoms a 6-2 lead.

The Phantoms capped off their big period with just under four minutes remaining, when Connor threw a shot on net that came right to forward Bryan Lemos who buried it, lifting the Phantoms to a 7-2 lead after the second period.

The Phantoms kicked off the third period with a bang while shorthanded, as forward Josh Melnick sent a feed to forward Ryan Lomberg who blasted it past Pawloski, improving Youngstown's lead to 8-2, with his League-leading sixth shorthanded goal of the season.

Green Bay tried to mount a comeback later in the third, as forward Sam Saliba scored a shorthanded marker, and forward Joey Marooney added a pair to cut Youngstown's lead to 8-5.

That was all the offense Green Bay was able to muster, as Birdsall stopped 23 of the 28 shots he faced to collect his 12th win of the season.

UP NEXT: The Phantoms return home for the first two games of a six-game home stand, as they welcome in the Western Conference's Fargo Force

Next Five Games

Friday, February 27th vs Fargo - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05 pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

Saturday, February 28thvs Fargo- Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05 pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

Friday, March 6th vs Sioux Falls - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05 pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

Saturday, March 7th vs Sioux Falls- Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05 pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

Friday, March 13th vs Sioux City - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH - 7:05 pm - Broadcast: 1240 WBBW AM, FASTHockey

2/27

vs. Fargo

7:05 pm

2/28

vs. Fargo

7:05 pm

3/6

vs. Sioux Falls

7:05 pm

3/7

vs. Sioux Falls

7:05 pm

3/13

vs. Sioux City

7:05 pm

NOTABLES

The Phantoms are currently riding a team-record eight game winning streak Forward Kyle Connor is riding an eight-game point streak, totaling six goals and seven assists in that time. He is second in the USHL in scoring with 52 points (20g, 32a). Forward Max Letunov has points in six straight games, accounting for six goals and two assists in that span. (He is tied for third in League-scoring with 50 points (21g, 29a). Forward Josh Melnick is on a six-game point streak, dishing out 11 assists in that span. He is currently the League-leader in assists with 36 Goaltender Colin DeAugustine picked up his 15th win of the season in Saturday's 5-1 win over Green Bay. He has won his last five starts

QUOTABLES

"Birdie was tremendous for us tonight, especially at the end and on that breakaway save, which I felt was really their best chance on the night. I felt our team defense kept most of what they did to the outside, and did a really nice job getting down and blocking shots. It wasn't the prettiest game, but we gutted it out and found a way to win, and that's what good teams do." - Head Coach Anthony Noreen following Thursday's 1-0 win over Bloomington

"It felt good to get those two goals tonight. The boys were rolling, and even though it was 0-0 going into the third, we weren't too worried because we were pretty happy with the way we were playing up to that point, and eventually we just blew it wide open in the third period." - Forward Matt Alvaro after Saturday's 5-1 win over Green Bay

"Melnick and I have really good chemistry on the penalty kill, and it feels like we have a better shot at scoring then they do when we're out there. We have the passion and willingness to do whatever it takes to not let the opposition score." - Captain Ryan Lomberg on the success the Phantoms' penalty kill has been having this season

"I'd been planning to get to the front of the net from the beginning of the period, and Kyle threw a nice pass across and I was just sitting there and jammed it home. I haven't been putting the puck in the net the last few games, and I wanted to get to the net and get a dirty goal and go to some of those hard areas." - Forward Bryan Lemos after snapping an 11-game goal-scoring drought on Sunday

Youngstown Phantoms Alumni Update

Pro Alumni Update

Brandon Saad (2008-2009) - Played in 60 games with the Chicago Blackhawks this season, registering 18 goals and 22 assists, along with a plus-six on-ice rating. Jiri Sekac (2009-11) - Traded to the Anaheim Ducks on 2/24. Played in 50 games with the Montreal Canadiens this season, accounting for seven goals and nine assists Andrej Sustr (2009-10) - Suited up in 58 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, dishing out eight assists and registering a plus-eight rating while averaging 17:32 TOI. Scott Mayfield (2009-10) - Skated in 51 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) this season, recording nine assists and a minus-eight rating, and 96 penalty minutes. Nathan Walker (2012-13) - Played in 28 games with the Hershey Bears (AHL), he has a goal along with three assists and a plus two on-ice rating Tom Serratore (2009-10)- Signed by the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL ON 2/3. Has played in 22 games this season, recording five assists along with a plus-six rating. Jefferson Dahl (2009-10)- Skated in 21 games with the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) this season, recording eight goals and 10 assists

College Alumni Update (2/18-2/23)

Adam Berkle (Bowling Green)- Recorded an assist against Northern Michigan on 2/21 Matt O'Connor (Boston University)- Tied Notre Dame on 2/20 (2 GA, 17 SV), and earned the win against Northeastern in the Beanpot Final on 2/23 (3 GA, 30 SV). Season: 17-3-4, 2.10 GAA, .929 S% (11th nationally) Dan Renouf (Maine)- Dished out an assist against Northeastern on 2/21 Sean Romeo (Maine)- Took the loss against Northeastern on 2/20 (2 GA, 14 SV) Season: 6-11-1, 3.04 GAA, .903 S% Luke Eibler (Northern Michigan)- Had an assist against Bowling Green on 2/20 Jon Liau (Princeton)- Dished out a pair of Assists against Yale on 2/21. He currently leads Tigers in scoring (4G, 10A) Kevin Liss (Princeton)- Scored a goal against Brown on 2/20 Taylor Holstrom (Penn State)- Dished out an assist against Minnesota on 2/20 & 2/21 Sam Anas (Quinnipiac)- Scored a goal against Brown on 2/21. Currently leads the Bobcats in scoring (17 G, 16 A) Chris Bradley (RPI)- Tallied a goal against Colgate on 2/21 Eric Sweetman (St Lawrence)- Had two assists against Dartmouth on 2/21

Check out the Youngstown Phantoms Statistics

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