Phantoms\' win streak snapped at five
November 18, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
A two game, home-and-home series with Cleveland allowed the Youngstown Phantoms to first extend their winning streak to five games, only to have their streak stopped a day later.
On Saturday, Rob Rassey's goal 43 seconds into overtime lifted the Phantoms to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Barons in a North American Hockey League contest that was played at Ohio State University. It was the fifth straight win and 10th victory in the last 11 games for the streaking Phantoms, who trailed the Barons 3-1 early in the second period.
Bob Collar scored for Youngstown at the 13:38 mark of the second period to make it a 3-2 game, but Cleveland's Pat Schafer netted his second breakaway goal of the afternoon at 15:55 to reestablish the Barons' two-goal advantage.
However, the momentum swung in the Phantoms' direction when Kyle Laughlin scored a power-play goal at 19:20 to make the score 4-3 at the second intermission.
Then three minutes into the third period, Youngstown's Chris Smith scored to create a 4-4 deadlock and set the stage for Rassey's overtime heroics.
The game-winning goal came when Rassey won a faceoff, steering the puck back to Jeremy Smith, who fired a shot at Cleveland goaltender Chris Carlson. Carlson made the save, but Rassey tucked the rebound past him into the cage. With that tally, Rassey took over the team lead in goals with 12.
"Cleveland played a defensive style and waited for us to make mistakes, and for two periods it was working because we were playing undisciplined hockey," Phantoms' head coach and general manager Bob Mainhardt said. "Two of the Barons' goals were breakaways, but we were able to tighten it up after that."
The following afternoon, the Phantoms dropped a 6-1 decision on the road against the Barons. The Phantoms, now 11-5-0, are one of the highest scoring teams in the North American Hockey League, but on this afternoon they managed only a second-period goal by Marc Menzione despite out-shooting the Barons, 32-19. Cleveland (7-11-2) led 2-0 after the first period and 5-1 through two periods of play. Youngstown had won its previous two meetings the Barons this season.
"We didn't bounce back today like I thought we would," Mainhardt said. "We played right into Cleveland's hands. They were patient, and they did a good job of capitalizing on our mistakes."
The Phantoms, who have a pair of five-game win streaks this season, will return to the ice on Saturday, November 20 when they again travel to Cleveland for a 7:00 p.m. game. The next home game for Youngstown will be a 7:00 p.m. contest against the USA National Team at The Ice Zone on Sunday, November 21.
Tickets for Phantoms' home games are available by calling (330) 965-7500 or visiting The Ice Zone, located at 360 McClurg Road. Tickets are also available at the door on game nights.
The latest news regarding the Phantoms is also available on the team's official website
North American Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2004
- One-goal losses plague Icedogs - Bozeman Icedogs
- Barons grab three points over rival Phantoms - Cleveland Barons
- Two Blizzard wins help create logjam atop NAHL West - Alexandria Blizzard
- Former IceDigger Zeman leading NCAA Division III in scoring - Alpena IceDiggers
- Wildcats light lamp, but drop two close contests - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jets move into first place tie - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Weekend wins put Tornado atop NAHL once again - Texas Tornado
- Phantoms' win streak snapped at five - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bobcats blast Bulls twice at home - Bismarck Bobcats
- NAHL names players of the week - NAHL
- NAHL races burning at the two-month mark - NAHL
- Bulls Campaign in West Division Parity - Billings Bulls
- Phantoms Could Take Over First Place - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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