Phantoms Win Home Opener
Published on October 29, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, OHIO (Friday, October 29, 2004) -- The Youngstown Phantoms are becoming a high-scoring hockey club and they proved it tonight when they registered an 8-5 victory over the Toledo Ice Diggers in North American Hockey League action at The Ice Zone. The Phantoms (7-4-0) were performing in front of their home crowd for the first time this season after six road games and four other contests that were played at neutral sites during the NAHL Showcase Tournament in Minneapolis. Youngstown has now recorded six wins in its last seven games and scored six or more goals four times in its last six encounters.
Tonight Steve Culbertson of the Ice Diggers (10-7-0) scored 26 seconds into the third period to tie the score at 4-4, but the Phantoms grabbed the lead for good on a goal by Rob Rassey at the 2:31-mark. Rassey added another tally moments later -- this time on a rebound -- to give Youngstown a 6-4 advantage. However, just seconds after the Phantoms had successfully killed a two-man disadvantage, Toledo's Jared Katz scored to pull his team within a goal at 6-5 at the 8:42-mark.
It remained a one-goal game until Youngstown's Bob Collar scored with 1:38 left in the contest, and then an empty-netter by Marc Menzione put the game away once and for all with 13 ticks showing on the clock. Toledo had the upper hand in shots on goal, 51-35, but Phantoms' netminder Jerry Kuhn helped his team, making 46 saves and improving his personal record to 6-3-0. Youngstown has won all three of its meetings with Toledo this season, having come out on top by scores of 5-2 (September 22) and 7-1 (October 9) in the previous two games.
"We know we can score goals, but over the course of the season, we're going to have to play a lot better in our own zone than we did tonight," Phantoms' Head Coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt said. "Certainly Jerry Kuhn played outstanding for us, but you can't give up 50 shots and count on your goaltender to bail you out very often."
Youngstown will be in action at The Ice Zone again tomorrow (Saturday) when they host the Cleveland Barons at 7:00 p.m. It will be the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Tickets for that contest -- and home games throughout the 2004-2005 season -- are available by calling (330) 965-7500 or visiting The Ice Zone, which is located at 360 McClurg Road in Boardman.
For more information about the Youngstown Phantoms, members of the media should contact Jim Lachimia at (412) 708-9301 or jlatch@zoominternet.net. The latest news regarding the Phantoms is also available on the team's official website www.youngstownphantoms.com and at www.nahl.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2004
- Phantoms Win Home Opener - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Icedogs vs. Ice Dogs tonight - Bozeman Icedogs
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