Phantoms Rally to Sweep Away IceDiggers
Published on December 29, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Monday, December 29th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms offense closed out 2008 with a three-goal third period en route to a 4-1 victory over the Alpena IceDiggers at the Chevrolet Centre on Monday night.
For the second straight night, Phantom forward Cole Schneider chipped in two goals, including the game winner, as Mahoning Valley (19-7-2, 40 pts) extended their first place lead over idle Traverse City (15-6-5, 35 pts) to five points with the sweep.
Things didn't look so good early on for the Phantoms, however. IceDigger Jerrod Hartman's point-blank shot beat Mahoning Valley goaltender Garrett Bartus 16:25 into the game to give Alpena an early 1-0 lead.
The lead stood up through the end of the first period, giving the Phantoms only their fifth deficit at the first intermission this season; they were 0-2-2 in the previous four games they trailed after one.
The offense eventually came alive late in the second period when Bartus caught Alpena in a line change and fired a 100-foot pass to forward Nick Shkreli at the IceDigger blue line. Shkreli turned and found teammate Brad Smith alone in front and Smith beat IceDigger goalie Nick Graves for his first goal of the year.
Shkreli, who also scored an empty-net goal with 1:11 left in regulation, said the play was good fundamental hockey.
"We cycled the puck really well on that shift and really tired out their line," said Shkreli. "They tried to ice it and go for a change so I did what I've always been taught: go to the blue line and wait for the puck. Garrett hit me with a great pass and Brad finished after I hit him."
The game would go to the second intermission tied at 1-1 before Schneider victimized the IceDiggers for his third goal of the two-game series just 23 seconds into the third, firing an Erik Higby feed past Graves for his eighth goal of the season.
Sixteen minutes later, he would follow with his fourth tally in two nights, knocking a Higby pass out of the air and into the net for a 3-1 lead.
Shkreli's empty-netter was his fifth marker of the season and gave the Phantoms the final 4-1 margin.
Bartus made 28 saves and was credited with the second assist on Smith's goal as he advanced his record to 5-4-2 in 2008-2009. Bartus said his win was the result of a solid team effort on defense.
"The defense did a great job moving bodies in front," said Bartus, "so I was able to keep everything in front of me and see the shots. They made my job really easy."
Graves finished with 36 saves but suffered his second straight loss to fall to 13-7-1.
Mahoning Valley finished the sweep without the services of second-leading scorer Brandon Saad (11-7-18) who is in Vancouver, BC, playing for Team USA at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Saad scored two goals and recorded an assist for the Americans as they thumped Team Finland 12-1 Monday night to open tournament play.
The Phantoms return to action Friday night as they open 2009 with a 7:00 PM face-off in Traverse City, MI, against the second-place North Stars in the first of a three-game series in northwest Michigan.
The game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 6:45 PM.
Phantoms season tickets and individual tickets are now on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2008
- Phantoms Rally to Sweep Away IceDiggers - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Fabian Chooses Air Force - Bismarck Bobcats
- U.S. National U17 Team Downs Finland, 12-1 - U.S. National Team
- NAHL Top Prospects Tournament Rosters Announced - NAHL
- U.S. National U17 Team Defeats Canada Pacific, 11-0 - U.S. National Team
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