Phantoms' Streak Ended by Marquette

November 29, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release


BOARDMAN, OH - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms' saw their five-game winning streak ended on Saturday night as they dropped a 5-2 decision to the Marquette Rangers at the Ice Zone in Boardman.

After a scoreless first period in the NAHL North Division Showcase game, the Rangers blitzed Phantoms goalie Garrett Bartus (3-3-2) for two goals in two minutes to grab a fast 2-0 lead.

Kyle Verbeek briefly pulled Mahoning Valley back into the game with 1:14 left in the second period, sliding the puck between the legs of Marquette netminder Kevin Kissaw to make the score 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

That was as close as the Phantoms would get, however, as Rangers' forward Aaron Pietila notched a third period hat trick to help Marquette pull away.

Pietila's first goal came just 2:18 into the third period as he beat Bartus high on an up-ice rush. He would net a nearly identical goal just 1:44 later, putting the Rangers up by a score of 4-1.

Jordy Trottier briefly restored hope for the Phantoms as he slapped a Trevor Shively rebound in traffic past Kissaw. A late penalty, however, to Dustin Hopfner ended the Phantoms' chances for a comeback when Pietila snuck a rebound through Bartus' legs to give the Rangers the 5-2 final margin.

With the loss, the Phantoms (14-5-2, 30 pts) slide back to second place in the NAHL North Division behind the Traverse City North Stars (14-3-3, 31 pts), who dropped the Alpena IceDiggers (10-7-2, 22 pts) in the early game at the Ice Zone 3-2.

Marquette (10-11-4, 24 pts) jumps ahead of Alpena for fourth place in the North with the win.

Bartus made 33 saves for the Phantoms as Marquette outshot Mahoning Valley 38-19 on a night when the Rangers were able to create heavy offensive pressure on the St. Charles, IL, native. Kissaw made 17 saves in picking up his sixth win of the season.

The Phantoms were without lineup regulars Johnny Meo, Erik Higby and Nick Kenney who were all out with undisclosed illnesses.

In three games at the Ice Zone this season, the Phantoms are 1-2-0. They are 4-0-0 at the Chevrolet Centre.

The Phantoms will play the ninth and final game of the North Division Showcase on Sunday evening as they take on the Motor City Machine at the Chevrolet Centre at 6:00 PM. It will be Dollar Hot Dog Night as the Phantoms and Machine meet for the 5th time this season.

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 5:45 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.



North American Hockey League Stories from November 29, 2008


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