Phantoms Top Green Bay 4-2
April 5, 2024 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
Youngstown Phantoms on the ice
(Youngstown Phantoms, Credit: Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography)
Youngstown, OH - The Youngstown Phantoms (30-19-6-4, 70pts) picked up an important two points Friday night with a 4-2 victory over the Green Bay Gamblers. Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward was glad his team's effort the past few games finally paid off tonight.
"I thought we were excellent. It's been building for a while and we've been a little unlucky," Ward said. "At the end of the day, Adam Pietila setting the tone with that fight and our guys from the drop of the puck were a determined group. I'm proud to be their coach."
This contest picked up right where Thursday night's game left off, with 48 penalty minutes handed out in the opening frame. The Gamblers got on board first when former Phantom Blake Bechen received the puck in the bumper position and sent one past Aiden Wright at 5:22 for a power play goal. At 9:25, Coleson Hanrahan came late on the rush, took the drop pass from Ryan Botterill, and connected on a wrister from the top of the left circle for his first USHL goal, knotting the game at 1-1.
"I moved the puck up, followed the play and was screaming for it, I got it and just ripped it. I don't even think I was looking, I think I closed my eyes." Hanrahan said while describing his first USHL goal.
The 1-1 tie did not last long as Botterill took advantage of a Green Bay penalty and fired a one-timer into the Green Bay net at 13:51 for his team-leading 27th marker of the year. Youngstown carried their one goal lead into the intermission.
The Phantoms' one goal lead was erased early in the second period after last night's hero, Mikey DeAngelo, danced around a Phantom defenseman on the rush with a toe drag and snap shot that ended up in the far side of the net at 5:25. The tie was broken again after Brecken Smith showed off some nifty stick work as he walked the goal line and flipped a back hander through the five-hole at 12:12 for a 3-2 Phantoms lead. Youngstown held a massive shot disparity in the period, logging 18 to Green Bay's four.
The Phantoms added some insurance just past the halfway mark of the final frame. Nathan Lewis scored his seventh goal in just his tenth game and extended the Phantoms lead 11:18 into the third after Charlie Cerrato drew the defender on a 2-on-1 and fed Lewis who had the right side of the net wide open. The goal from Lewis ended the scoring on the night, giving the Phantoms the 4-2 victory in front of their home crowd.
Wright picked up his 11th win of the season as he denied 16 of the 18 Green Bay shots. Gavin Moffatt had a decent showing in net for the Gamblers despite the loss, stopping 32 of 36 shots.
The Phantoms host Green Bay again tomorrow night for the final game of the three-in-three at the Covelli Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm.
By the Numbers
Shots - 36
Saves - 16
Power Play - 1/3
Penalty Kill - 4/5
Goals - Botterill, Hanrahan, Lewis, Smith
Assists - Botterill (2), Cerrato (2), Lewis, Strathmann (2), Willson
Box Score - https://ushl.com/ht/#/game-summary/11275
Images from this story
 Youngstown Phantoms on the ice (Scott Galvin/Scott Galvin Photography) |
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