Phantoms top Barons 4-2
October 17, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Parma, Ohio (Sunday, October 16, 2005) - Mike Maltese scored two goals as the Mahoning Valley Phantoms defeated the Cleveland Jr. Barons 4-2 in North American Hockey League (NAHL) action.
The game was delayed for about 20 minutes in the second period after Phantoms center Brad O'Shell suffered a severe concussion and bruised arm after Barons defenseman Brady Yevins elbowed him in the head along the side boards during a Phantoms powerplay. O'Shell lied unconscious on the ice for several minutes as he was being attended to by both team's trainers. He regained consciousness and was taken off the ice on a stretcher and to Parma Community General Hospital for treatment and further evaluation. O'Shell was released Sunday evening and traveled home with the team. The injury occurred away from the play and no penalties were assessed. The Phantoms proceeded to play inspired hockey for their injured teammate.
The first period was a carbon copy of Saturday night's game, an 8-5 win by Cleveland, with both teams scoring on their first powerplay. In front of the Barons net, Marc Menzione redirected Dennis Urban's shot from the right point to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead at the 9:10 mark. The Barons knotted it up a little over three minutes later; Chris Reed fired a similar shot as Urban's from the right point, through traffic, past goaltender Ryan Zapolski.
But the Phantoms regained the lead a mere 19 seconds later; Owen Meyer led a two-on-one break down the left wing. His pass for Milan Drevenak was deflected high in the air by a Barons defenseman and landed to the left of Cleveland goaltender Kenny Reiter. Reiter came out of his goal to play the puck and collided with a teammate, falling on top of him. With the loose puck in front of the right post, Mike Maltese reached to it first. Despite being tied up by a Baron, he still managed to get his stick on the puck and navigate it between four skates into an open net for a 2-1 lead with 7:25 remaining in the period.
"After the first period, I reminded the players that the only way they can beat us is if we beat ourselves. The difference between failing and getting to the next level is consistency. We we're better today, and we can still play a lot better", said Phantoms Head Coach Bob Mainhardt.
O'Shell's injury occurred at the 4:48 mark of the second period, and the referee instructed both teams to their locker rooms while O'Shell was being treated. But the Phantoms went to the other side of the rink, outside of the playing surface and formed two lines along both walls. They each encouraged and said a few words to O'Shell as he was taken towards an ambulance.
"The boys know that Brad's tough and that he'll be OK. We know that Cleveland does not play a tough style and would rather take cheap shots, so you have to deal with that," added Mainhardt.
Later in the second, Maltese would score his second goal of the game and fourth of the season, shorthanded as he ripped a wrist shot over the glove of Reiter for a 3-1 lead after two periods.
Josh Leonard pulled Cleveland to within 3-2 with 5:29 left in regulation, firing a wrist shot past Zapolski's blocker for his league-leading ninth goal of the season and fourth goal in two games. But the Phantoms preserved the lead, thanks to a late Barons penalty for having too many men on the ice. The Barons pulled Reiter for an extra attacker, making it five skaters aside. But during a delayed offsides, Menzione pulled the puck out of the Phantoms zone and fed Drew Satterley at the Barons blue line. He skated in uncontested and escorted the puck into the net for his team leading fifth goal of the season with 25.9 seconds remaining in the game.
The Barons outshot the Phantoms 33-28 with Zapolski making 31 saves to improve his record to 3-1. The Phantoms return home for a day before they leave on Tuesday for suburban Minneapolis and the NAHL Showcase. The four-day, four-game event begins with a match up against the Wichita Falls Wildcats at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. Faceoff is at 4:30pm (www.mvpphantoms.com)
North American Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2005
- IceDiggers head to showcase with momentum - NAHL
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Travels To NAHL Showcase - U.S. National Team
- Jets take perfect record into NAHL Showcase this week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Cats fall to Junior Blues - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Phantoms top Barons 4-2 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Blizzard drops Outlaws for third straight win - North Iowa Outlaws
- Alpena completes sweep of Stars - Traverse City North Stars
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