Phantoms rally, but fall to Bucs
Published on October 17, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
URBANDALE, Iowa - Despite another lightning-quick Youngstown Phantoms rally, the Des Moines Buccaneers maintained their poise and pieced together a 5-3 win Saturday night at Buccaneer Arena.
Connor Brickley's rebound power-play goal at 2:52 of the third period provided the winning margin for the Bucs (2-3-0), who survived to earn their first home victory of the young season despite squandering a 3-0 lead to the explosive Phantoms (2-2-1).
After Yasin Cisse poked in Jack Berger's centering feed 18 seconds into the second period, the Bucs seemed to be cruising up by three. But Adam Berkle's unassisted goal, his first in the USHL, quieted the Madhouse on Hickman only six seconds later, thus tilting the ice in Youngstown's favor.
Soon after Berkle's marker, defenseman Scott Mayfield expertly set up Brett Gensler's slam dunk goal at 3:20 of the second with the Phantoms on a power play to draw the visitors to within 3-2. The hasty comeback was complete a scant 29 seconds later by Nick Czinder, as he gloved down a deflected pass and ripped a low snapper under Bucs goalie Eric Mihalik to tie the score.
However, Coldwell's heavy blast early in the third set up Brickley's game winner, then Ryan Walters finished the job with an empty net goal at 19:57.
The Phantoms streak of netting the opening goal in each of their first four games came to an end when Taylor Wolfe flipped in a loose puck during a goalmouth scramble at 10:03 of the first frame. D.J. Vandercook earned the only assist, his third of the season.
Youngstown appeared to regain its equilibrium following the Bucs' tally, but were forced to kill a Brett Gensler double-minor penalty for high sticking late in the period. The Phantoms got within a half minute of surviving unscathed, but Austin Coldwell blasted a one-time slapper over Matt Mahalak's glove to make it 2-0 with 1:24 left in the first.
Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1048716 for full box score.
United States Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2009
- Buccaneers Blind Phantom; Win First Home Game 5-3 - Des Moines Buccaneers
- Phantoms rally, but fall to Bucs - Youngstown Phantoms
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Falls Short at Indiana, 4-1 - U.S. National Team
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Team Tipped by Sioux City, 2-1 - U.S. National Team
- Countdown To Puck Drop: Phantoms At Des Moines - Youngstown Phantoms
- New Merchandise Options For Ice - Indiana Ice
- Storm Lose In OT To Fargo, 6-5 - Tri-City Storm
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