Phantoms Pick Up Gritty 3-1 Victory Over Green Bay
April 6, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown Phantoms' Michael Burchill versus Green Bay Gamblers' Adam Gajan
(Youngstown Phantoms, Credit: Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography)
Youngstown, OH - The Youngstown Phantoms (31-19-6-4, 72pts) grabbed a huge 3-1 victory over the Green Bay Gamblers Saturday night at the Covelli Centre. In a highly physical weekend series, Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward loved how his team performed going into the playoffs and relates his team's tough play style to the city of Youngstown.
"It was a good weekend. Overall, going into playoffs this was a weekend where we were going to get our mettle tested and I thought they (the players) did a good job," Ward said. "At the end of the day, when you come to Youngstown, when you come to gritty city, that's what you're going to get. That's just Phantoms hockey."
The red-hot Ryan Botterill gave the Phantoms an early lead in the contest when he sniped the team's first shot of the game from the right circle past Green Bay goalie Adam Gajan at 3:51. The Phantoms top line of Botterill, Charlie Cerrato and Nathan Lewis continues to dominate for Youngstown, picking up a point for the 11th time in the last 12 games. Botterill's goal was the lone goal of the period, giving the home team a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission.
Botterill added to the lead just 13 seconds into the middle frame after he settled the puck off a Luke Osburn pass and snapped a shot through the five hole of Gajan to give the Phantoms a 2-0 lead. Just minutes later, with Youngstown on the penalty kill, Mikey Burchill picked the pocket of Gambler defenseman Chris Romaine as he tried to carry the puck ahead from his own zone, gathered the loose puck, and beat Gajan to give his team their league-leading 10th shorthanded goal of the season, and a 3-0 lead at 2:49. Green Bay finally got on the board at 5:59 when Geno Carcone converted on a one-timer from the hash marks, beating Aiden Wright to make the score 3-1 in favor of Youngstown.
After allowing 12 shots in the first period, the Youngstown defense went into lockdown, allowing just nine Green Bay shots on net over the final two frames. The Phantoms kept the Gamblers off the board in the third, putting a finishing touch on the 3-1, earning five out of six points on the weekend.
Wright continues his dominance in the net for Youngstown, stopping 22 or 23 Green Bay shots. Gajan denied 13 of 16 for Green Bay on the night.
Youngstown's win, coupled with Madison's loss to the U17s, drops the Phantoms magic number to clinch home ice in the first round of the Clark Cup Playoffs to 1. Thanks to Muskegon's pair of losses to the U18s this weekend, the Phantoms still have a shot at the 2-seed if Youngstown wins both games next weekend in regulation/OT, Green Bay loses both of their games in regulation, and Muskegon gets no more than one standings point on the weekend.
The Phantoms will look to lock up home ice in the first round of the Clark Cup Playoffs next Friday at the Covelli Centre when they will take on the U17s for their final regular season home game. Puck drop is slated for 7:05pm.
By the Numbers
Shots - 16
Saves - 22
Power Play - 0/1
Penalty Kill - 3/3
Goals - Botterill (2), Burchill
Assists - Hanrahan, Lewis, Osburn, Pitner
Box Score - https://ushl.com/ht/#/game-summary/11283
Images from this story
 Youngstown Phantoms' Michael Burchill versus Green Bay Gamblers' Adam Gajan (Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography) |
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