USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Phantoms Take First of Home-And-Home with Jacks, 5-2

Published on February 10, 2012 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Youngstown Phantoms grabbed the lead early Friday night at L.C. Walker Arena, netting three goals before the 11-minute mark, and defeated the Muskegon Lumberjacks 5-2. It was a chippy game, punctuated with four fights on the night, and it set the stage for the series finale on Sunday in the Covelli Centre.

Austin Cangelosi scored a pair of goals and Sam Anas, Dylan Margonari and JT Stenglein also found the back of the net for the Phantoms (24-13-3, T-third East). Goaltender Matthew O'Connor turned away 21 of 23 shots from the Lumberjacks (11-20-4, eighth East) for his 21st win of the season.

"I think we set the tone [for Sunday]," Cangelosi said. "I think our third period we maybe backed off a bit. We could have gone a little bit harder and maybe scored a couple more goals, but I think for the most part we did a good job executing."

Anas put the Phantoms up 1-0 on their first power play of the night. He picked up a bouncing puck just inside the blue line, deked around 'Jacks defenseman Travis Walsh, cut to the slot and put a wrist shot past Hayden Stewart, who was playing in just his third USHL game. It was Anas' 12th of the season - third in as many games - and gave Youngstown the lead before the game was four minutes old.

The Phantoms added to that lead a few minutes later when Cangelosi scored for the sixth straight game on a tremendous transition. Mike Ambrosia and Anas got the assists on a tic-tac-toe play that ended with Cangelosi tapping it in on the backdoor for his 20th of the season.

Margonari made it 3-0 at the 10:17 mark with the Phantoms league-leading 12th short-handed goal of the campaign. The Minnesota State-Mankato commit got the puck in his end and skated it down the left wing. Walsh did an admirable job of forcing him to the outside, but Margonari took advantage of the inexperienced Stewart, threw it on net from corner and the puck banked in off the goaltender's leg pad.

"We're good when we drive to the net. That's when we make things happen offensively - by driving there with and without the puck," Head Coach Anthony Noreen said. "I think the goals from Cangelosi and Margonari were an example of that."

John Keeney came on in relief of Stewart and turned away all three shots he faced in the remainder of the period but the Phantoms carried a 3-0 lead into the second.

Stenglein stretched the lead to 4-0 a little more than four minutes into the second. The Greece, N.Y., native chased down his own rebound that bounced to the half wall. He then moved to the slot, toe-dragged around the defenseman and put a wrist shot five-hole for his 20th of the season.

Cangelosi netted his second of the night, and 21st of the season, on a very opportunistic play. The Phantoms sent a puck in on Keeney and, while he was handling it, Cangelosi snuck in on the right side. Keeney ended up putting the puck right on Boston College commit's stick and he put it right between his legs to make it 5-0 with just 54 seconds remaining in the period.

"Those goals only happen to guys who work hard," Noreen said. "You don't see many guys who don't play hard get those kind of layup goals. He deserved it."

Muskegon spoiled O'Connor's bid for a shutout just before the midway point in the third. Jordan Masters knocked a puck across the goal in the midst free-for-all in front of the Phantoms net to make it 5-1. Then Ryan Lomberg added another on the power play, when he batted in a rebound out of midair. But the Phantoms were able to hold on for their third straight win.

"We did a very good job of capitalizing on our chances tonight," Noreen said. "I think in some other areas we could have improved, but we'll work on that for Sunday."

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United States Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2012


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