Phantoms Split with Alpena, Cling to Division Lead
Published on March 27, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, OH (Friday, March 27th, 2009) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are the leaders in the clubhouse for the North Division, finishing the season 36-17-6 with 77 points in the standings following a 5-2 loss to the Alpena IceDiggers in their regular-season finale at the Ice Zone in Boardman Friday night.
The Phantoms hold a two-point lead in the division over the second-place U.S. National Team (35-16-6, 75 pts) following the Nationals' 6-2 victory at Motor City on Friday.
The Phantoms and IceDiggers came out with a defensive-minded first period, as the two sides battled to a scoreless stalemate through the opening 20 minutes.
Mahoning Valley opened the scoring 3:05 into the second frame when Cole Schneider bounced a bad-angle shot off the leg-pads of Alpena netminder Nick Graves and inside the far post for a 1-0 Phantoms edge.
Alpena, however, would rally as Erik Peterson took a Phantoms giveaway in on goalie Jordan Tibbett and snapped a top-shelf shot past the second-year goaltender to tie the game at 1-1 with 8:31 remaining in the second.
The IceDiggers gained a lead they would not surrender two and a half minutes later when Jon Puskar streaked behind the Mahoning Valley defense and beat Tibbett on a breakaway to put his team up 2-1.
After the second intermission, Alpena wasted no time padding their lead when Tyler Pilmore rocketed a slapshot by Tibbett to put the IceDiggers up 3-1 just 4:40 into the third.
The Phantoms answered the bell, though, when David Chaney one-timed a Nick Kenney centering feed on the power play over Graves and into the net to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 12:44 left in regulation.
The rally was cut short when Puskar got a breakaway off a broken play in the Alpena end and lifted a wrist shot past Tibbett for a 4-2 IceDiggers lead.
When the Phantoms pulled Tibbett in an effort to mount a late comeback, defenseman Adam Bristol capped the three-goal third period for Alpena when he fired a 110-foot wrist shot into the empty Mahoning Valley net for the final 5-2 margin.
The win, combined with Marquette's 3-0 loss at Traverse City, clinched the IceDiggers' third consecutive playoff appearance. Though Alpena's (27-24-6, 60 pts) lead is only two points with one game to play for each time, Marquette (25-24-8, 58 pts) could only tie the IceDiggers for fourth place and Alpena would control the first tiebreaker of total wins.
The Phantoms, on the other hand, become scoreboard-watchers over the season's final two days as the second-place Nationals have two more games, both at home against Motor City and then Alpena on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The Phantoms will open the 2009 playoffs on Friday, April 3rd, at 7:30 PM; their first-round opponent has yet to be determined. Game two of the first round North Division Playoff series will be Sunday, April 5th, at 3:00 PM.
Both contests will be at the Chevrolet Centre.
Friday's game will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks with a 7:15 PM pregame show.
Tickets for the 2009 Playoffs are now on sale. All seats for games one and two of the first round are on sale for $5.00. For more information or to reserve your 2009 Playoff seats, call the Phantom Box Office at (330) 965-7500.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company - Phantom Fireworks, located in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2009
- Stars get Marquette, 3-0 - Traverse City North Stars
- U.S. Nat'l U17 Team Upends Motor City, 6-2 - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms Split with Alpena, Cling to Division Lead - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Stars score 3-0 win - Traverse City North Stars
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