Phantoms win in exciting fashion
September 29, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Miles Winter's second goal of the game with 38.6 seconds remaining in the third period gave the Mahoning Valley Phantoms a 5-4 come from behind win over the U.S. National Under-17 Team at the Ice Cube. The Phantoms overcame a 4-1 deficit midway through the game with four consecutive even strength goals.
Winter blocked a clearing attempt in between the circles of the U.S. zone. He skated to his right, and easily beat goaltender Nick Maricic to complete an incredible comeback.
The Phantoms appeared to be in for a long night after the first period as Team USA controlled the tempo, striking early and often. On the power play, Jordan Schroeder's pass from the right wing boards found a trailing Ryan Hegarty in the slot. He skated to his left, used the defenseman as a screen, and fired a wrist shot that handcuffed Phantoms goaltender Ryan Zapolski for a 1-0 lead at the 5:47 mark.
Danny Kristo made it 2-0 when he took a left wing pass from Schroeder in the high slot. Kristo skated in uncontested and beat Zapolski high with another wrist shot at 9:03.
Kristo scored his second of the period after the Phantoms were unable to clear the puck out of their zone. After he and Schroeder failed to connect seconds earlier, Schroeder tapped the puck behind the net to Kristo. Kristo skated around one Phantom in the left circle and threw a shot that Zapolski stopped, but couldn't secure. Kristo grabbed the rebound, and stuffed it around the goaltender's left leg for a 3-0 lead with 2:20 remaining in the period.
The Phantoms got on the scoreboard in the first minute of the second period. On the power play, Zapolski caught the U.S. team in the middle of a line change and made a pass to Matt Quigley on the opposite blue line. He skated from left to right wing before passing cross-ice to Winter in the left circle. Winter's shot scooted between the legs of Maricic for his first goal of the season at the 51 second mark.
But the red, white and blue extended their lead during an unusual sequence. As the Phantoms were on a power play, the U.S. stole the puck behind their own net and drew a penalty, as the Phantoms pinched deep into the zone. With the delayed call, U.S. defenseman Ryan Hagerty cleared the puck out to center ice to a streaking David Wohlberg, who skated in alone. Shorthanded, Wohlberg skated across from left to right and flipped a backhand past the extended glove of Zapolski for a 4-1 lead at 11:06. It marked the fourth shorthanded goal that the Phantoms have allowed this season.
Quigley started the comeback with 2:47 left in the period. Nathan Longpre won a face off in the left circle of the U.S. zone by pushing it between two players and behind the goal line. Longpre then steered the puck out from behind the right goal line and fed a no-look pass to Quigley, who was parked on the left post for the easy tap-in.
The Phantoms play elevated in the final period. With strong forechecking, Nick Kulas stole the puck from behind the U.S. net. Emerging on the right side, he skipped a backhand to Brent Dexter on the left goal line. Dexter lifted the puck high past the stick of Maricic for his second goal of the season. At 6:46 of the period, the Phantoms pulled within 4-3.
Quigley tied it up at 4-4 on a breakaway after taking a pass from Adam Snead in the neutral zone. Quigley skated in from right to left and flipped a backhand past Maricic for his fifth goal in two games.
Following Winter's goal, the U.S. pulled Maricic for an extra skater, but the Phantoms countered by keeping the puck along the perimeter in their zone. Chad Boeckman secured the victory with a face off win with 3.5 seconds remaining.
Zapolski make 22 saves for his first win of the season. Maricic fell to 1-1 with 23 saves. Both teams will return to the Ice Cube for a Saturday night rematch at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on www.mvpphantoms.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2006
- IceDiggers drop North Stars - Alpena IceDiggers
- IceDiggers bury North Stars - Traverse City North Stars
- Late Goal Leads Mahoning Valley Past U.S. National Under-17 Team - U.S. National Team
- Phantoms win in exciting fashion - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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