Phantoms Ride Chaney's Hat Trick to 9-2 Rout
February 28, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
WYANDOTTE, MI - David Chaney poured in his first hat trick of the year as the Mahoning Valley Phantoms dumped the Motor City Machine 9-3 on Saturday night, completing a two-game sweep of the Machine.
Chaney also tallied the game winner as the Phantoms ended their season series with the Machine with an 11-1-1 record.
After the game, Chaney was excited for the scoring feat.
"Obviously it feels great to get the hat trick," said the Shelby Township, MI, native, "but it was thanks to a good team-wide effort. Our special teams were really good this weekend and I benefitted from it."
The Phantoms were 3-for-7 on the man advantage on Saturday and a combined 8-for-14 in the series.
Garrett Bartus made 44 saves in the win, improving his record to 11-6-3 on the season.
Cullen Lundholm and Johnny Meo scored 31 seconds apart to open the scoring nine minutes into the first period.
Three and a half minutes later, Cody Holsworth scored for Motor City to cut the Phantoms' lead to 2-1.
The game would stay 2-1 until 11 minutes into the third period when Mahoning Valley's Alex Lippincott and Motor City's Kevin Bechard traded goals before the Phantoms blew the game wide open.
Chaney scored his first goal on the power play, followed by goals from Nick Kenney and Robert Harrison to close the second period with a 6-2 lead.
Harrison's goal came on a 90-foot slap shot that beat Motor City goalie Matthew Delaney as time expired in the second.
Following a Jon Bobb goal for the Machine, Chaney scored on an up-ice rush for his second of the night on a backhand shot past Delaney.
Cole Schneider pushed the Phantoms lead to 8-3, scoring off an Alex Lippincott rebound with 6:24 remaining in regulation.
Chaney capped off the scoring when Schneider passed up a scoring opportunity on the side of the Machine net, dishing off to the first-year defenseman who beat Delaney with a wrist shot to complete the hat trick.
"Just a great play by Schneider," said Chaney, "it was totally unselfish, passing up a great chance on the doorstep to give me a chance at the hat trick."
Delaney finished with 19 saves as his record slipped to 1-11-0 on the year.
The Phantoms (33-12-5, 71 pts) maintained their nine-point lead over Traverse City (28-14-6, 62 pts) for first place in the North Division; the North Stars snapped their two-game losing streak with a 3-1 win at Alpena on Saturday.
The Phantoms return to action on Friday, March 13th, when they open a three-game series against the North Stars at the Chevrolet Centre. The Friday game is scheduled for a 7:15 PM start in Youngstown.
The game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 7:00 PM.
Phantoms individual game tickets are on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2009
- Phantoms Ride Chaney's Hat Trick to 9-2 Rout - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Blanks St. Louis, 1-0 - U.S. National Team
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Team Falls to Bemidji St., 6-3 - U.S. National Team
- Machine can't get by Phantoms, 9-3 - Motor City Metal Jackets
- Stars salvage two points - Traverse City North Stars
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