Phantoms Set to Open Final 2008 Road Trip
Published on December 11, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Ann Arbor, MI (Thursday, December 11th, 2008) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are back on the road and back in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as they start the December portion of their 2008-2009 schedule Friday night against the U.S. National Team in Ann Arbor, MI.
In four previous meetings, the Phantoms are 3-1-0 against Team USA, splitting a two-game series at the Ice Zone in late October before sweeping a home-and-home set from the Nationals three weeks ago.
The home-and-home series in November was arguably one of the most exciting for the Phantoms so far this season. The first game marked the first shutout of the season for the Phantoms as Jordan Tibbett steered aside 23 shots to earn his first goose-egg in two seasons in the Valley.
The Saturday matinee in Ann Arbor saw Mahoning Valley jump out to a huge 4-0 lead early in the second period before the Nationals chipped away at the lead, eventually cutting it to 4-3. The Phantoms would extend the lead to 5-3 in the third period before two Team USA goals in the last 14 seconds of regulation forced overtime with a 5-5 score. No winner was determined in OT and Brandon Saad notched the only goal in the five-man shootout to deliver the Phantoms a 6-5 win.
Phantoms Head Coach and General Manager says that both teams took some valuable lessons from that Saturday matchup.
"We hope that game will be a reminder to our team how important it is to stick to our gameplan," says Mainhardt. "That was a game that got Team USA on track and gave them the confidence to know that they're not out of any game.
"I hope that our team took the same lesson from it: that none of our opponents are ever out of a game."
Currently, Mahoning Valley (15-5-2, 32 pts) and Team USA (13-9-2, 28 pts) are pitched in a fierce fight for the top of the NAHL's North Division standings, along with the front-running Traverse City North Stars (15-5-3, 33 pts).
The Phantoms currently hold the best winning percentage (72.7%) in the division and have one game in hand over Traverse City and two games in hand on Team USA.
Mainhardt says that if the Phantoms want to keep pace in the tightly packed North, they'll have to out-hustle the Nationals.
"USA is a very highly talented offensive team," says Mainhardt, "so we've got to make sure we win all of our battles. That's the biggest thing. If we don't outwork them, we don't have a chance. The biggest equalizer in any situation is hard work, so we need to make sure we out-work [Team USA] this weekend."
The Phantoms are led in scoring by Brandon Saad's 15 points on 10 goals and 5 assists and in the net by the goaltending of Tibbett (12-2-0, 1.96 GAA, .923 SV%). Meanwhile, the 14 points of California natives Emerson Etem (6-8-14) and Matthew Nieto (5-9-14) lead Team USA up front; Will Yanakeff anchors the Nationals between the pipes with a 4-4-1 record, a 2.22 GAA and a .907 SV%.
Both Friday and Saturday night's games are set for 7:00 PM puck drops at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube.
The games will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame shows will both begin at 6:45 PM.
Phantoms season tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone in Boardman. 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 December 11, 2008
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- U.S. Nat'l U18 Team Tops Fredonia St., 7-3 - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms Set to Open Final 2008 Road Trip - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Outlaws reading program a success - North Iowa Outlaws
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