Phantoms to Open Third Three-game Weekend of January
January 22, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - Fresh off the All-Star break, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms are set to open up their third three-game weekend of January, hosting Detroit's Motor City Machine for two games at the Chevrolet Centre on Friday and Saturday before a return trip to Ann Arbor to play Team USA on Sunday.
The slate is identical to the team's January 9-11 schedule, a weekend in which Mahoning Valley won two of three.
When Motor City visited the Chevrolet Centre two weeks ago, the Phantoms picked up their second sweep of the Machine, winning 5-3 and 6-3 on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Brandon Saad led the Mahoning Valley attack in the two-game series, scoring three goals for the first-place Phantoms. Nick Kenney added two goals and an assist.
The last-place Machine did get good performances from Top Prospects selections Ryan Misiak and Josh Bussell, each of whom had two goals on the weekend.
The Machine enter Friday's game on a three game losing streak. Phantoms team captain Johnny Meo says that Motor City's struggles shouldn't cause his teammates to lose focus.
"Even though they're in last place, they're still a talented and hard-working team," says the third-year forward, "so we have to come out with the same mindset that we always do: play our own game and play hard for sixty minutes."
Friday and Saturday night's games both begin at 7:15 PM at the Chevrolet Centre.
In seven previous games against the Machine, Saad (5-2-7) and Nick Shkreli (1-6-7) have led the Phantoms' offensive charge while Jordan Tibbett and Garrett Bartus have combined for a 6-1-0 record against Motor City with a 2.43 goals against average.
Shkreli, who is second on the Phantoms with 25 points (8-17-25), says that his ability to generate points against the Machine has nothing to do with the opponent.
"There's no secret in the matchups," says Shkreli, "I just play hard against them like I would any other team. When I get my chances, I make sure I bury them."
After the Phantoms and Machine wrap up their series on Saturday, Mahoning Valley will turn right around and head to Ann Arbor, MI, for a rematch with the US National Team's prestigious Under-18 squad on Sunday.
Sunday's game is scheduled for a 3:00 PM puck drop.
All three games will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin 15 minutes before the start of each contest.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2009
- Phantoms to Open Third Three-game Weekend of January - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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