Phantoms win first of the season
September 14, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
Blaine, Minnesota (Thursday, September 14, 2006) - Defenseman Adam Snead scored with 1:43 remaining in overtime to give the Mahoning Valley Phantoms a 5-4 win over the Santa Fe Roadrunners in Day Two action at the NAHL Showcase.
Snead's goal was the result of a faceoff win in the Roadrunners zone. Chad Boeckman, who originally tried to steer the puck back to Snead, was tied up in the right faceoff circle before redirecting it to right winger Nick Kulas along the side boards. Kulas dished it back to Snead, who waited for his teammates to charge the net before shooting. His rising wrist shot deflected off the left leg of Santa Fe defenseman Tom Hill and past goaltender Derek Brennan to give the Phantoms their first win of the season. It capped off an afternoon of quick comebacks and resiliency by the Phantoms.
Santa Fe, who scored all four of their goals on the power play, took the lead at 12:24 when Jason Krispel found Nate Hennig alone on the right side goal line and beat a helpless Bryce Merriam. But the Phantoms struck back in just 18 seconds.
Following an initial shot that was blocked, Janis Purins stole the puck from behind the Roadrunner net and flipped a backhand that scooted off and over Brennan's left shoulder to tie the game at 1-1.
Minutes later, Nathan Swank teed off from the top of the left circle, as the puck soared through traffic and over Merriam's left glove to regain the lead at the 17:36 mark. Once again, the Phantoms countered; this time they improved their previous response time.
Off the ensuing faceoff, Kulas threaded a beautiful pass to a streaking Brent Dexter on the left wing. His redirect beat Brennan low and the game was tied at 2-2 in a matter of eight seconds.
Swank gave the Roadrunners their third lead on another screaming slapshot from nearly the identical location and end point as his first goal; over Merriam's glove with 8:52 remaining in the second period. Though not as swiftly as their prior two comebacks, the Phantoms would quickly tie it yet again.
On the power play, Nathan Longpre blindly redirected a right wing pass from Mike Fillinger to Chris Fairbanks on the left goal line. With Brennan out of position, Fairbanks roofed the puck before Brennan could recover and the game was tied at 3-3 with 6:51 to go in the middle stanza.
The Phantoms would successfully kill their next three power plays before taking their first lead in the third period. Brent Dexter stole the puck along the left wing boards in front of the Santa Fe bench and created his own scoring chance. His shot from the left circle was stopped by Brennan, but the rebound found Kulas' stick in stride. The second shot traveled over the goaltender's left shoulder at the 9:19 mark. But Santa Fe would pull off a comeback of their own.
Defenseman Rafael Rodriguez, who had three assists, pinched in from the right point and floated a nice backhand pass across the top of the crease to Josh Kamrass. With no one to defend him, Kamrass easily swept the puck into an open net to even the game at 4-4 with 5:35 left in regulation.
Merriam made sure that the Roadrunners would not regain the lead, finishing with 16 saves in the final period and 40 for the game leading up to Snead's fourth period tally.
Santa Fe outshot the Phantoms 44-39 as Brennan stopped 34 in the loss. Both teams stand at 1-1 on the young season. The Roadrunners finished 4 for 12 on the power play compared to the Phantoms' 1 for 7. The Phantoms will next take on the Fargo-Moorhead Jets at 2:30pm Eastern time on Friday.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 14, 2006
- U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Downs Texas, 11-1 - U.S. National Team
- IceDiggers outlast Blizzard 7-4 in second game of showcase - Alpena IceDiggers
- Phantoms win first of the season - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bismarck holds off North Stars, 4-3 - Traverse City North Stars
- Rangers Take Victory - Marquette Rangers
- IceDiggers defeat Outlaws 4-1 in opener - Alpena IceDiggers
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Wins Season Opener, 3-2 - U.S. National Team
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