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USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Piccinich Pick up a Pair, But Phantoms Bend to Steel in OT

December 6, 2013 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - JJ Piccinich scored twice and Kyle Connor racked up three points, but the Youngstown Phantoms left one crucial point on the table Friday night at the Covelli Centre. Chicago Steel defenseman Alec Vanko netted a pair of goals, including a power-play goal 10 seconds into overtime to edge them past the Phantoms 4-3.

Youngstown netminder Colin DeAugustine turned away 26 shots, but never saw Vanko's wrist shot from the high slot just seconds into the extra frame, while the Chicago was in the midst of a 4-on-3 power play. His counterpart, Chris Nell, was just as sharp between the pipes, making 28 saves in what Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen said was one of the top goaltending performances he'd seen this season.

"Their defensemen did a great job blocking shots in front of him, but when he needed to, he made grade 'A' saves," Noreen said. "He might have made 12 or 15 of them."

The Phantoms (7-11-4, 18 points) trailed 3-2 entering the third but were able to even it up just past the midway point of the period. Kyle Mackey hit Connor with an outlet pass just outside the Chicago blue line and the Michigan recruit lasered a wrist shot just beneath Nell's glove for his 12th of the season, extending his goal-scoring streak to six straight games.

Youngstown continued to press in the remainder of the period, racking up five shots, but was dealt a bad hand when Conor Lemirande was whistled for interference in the offensive zone with 1:45 left in regulation. The Phantoms' penalty kill was able to limit the Steel power play to just one shot in the dying seconds of the third, but with more open ice in overtime - and a wall of Steel jerseys in front of DeAugustine - Vanko was able to net the game-winner.

"We deserved better than what we had that game," Connor said. "I think we out-played them, but we've got to start stringing together some wins here."

The Steel (8-15-0, 16 points) opened the scoring less than eight minutes into the first period capitalizing on the man-advantage. Artem Artemov gathered up the puck after a failed clearing attempt and picked out Vanko cheating in on the weak side to set up him up for his first of the night.

Youngstown's deficit stretched to 2-0 at the 16:22 mark when Robbie Payne redirected a point shot from Peter Tischke past DeAugustine for his third goal of the season.

The Phantoms finally broke through when Piccinich beat Nell on a 4-on-3 power play six minutes into the second. Connor fired a shot from the right circle and the rebound came dribbling out for Piccinich, who swatted the bouncing puck out of mid-air for his sixth marker on the man-advantage, trailing only Sioux Falls' Zeb Knutson.

"It seemed like after all the chances we were getting, we didn't know if one was ever going to get in," Noreen said. "It took everything we possibly had to get a puck by [Nell]. Sometimes when you get one in, the floodgates will open, but it took everything we had to get the second and third against him, too."

Piccinich added another at the 16:02 mark off an incredible individual effort from Connor. The 16-year-old went streaking down the left wing boards, then dropped a pass to himself in the corner, side-stepping a tumbling Steel defenseman. He then cut to the slot, shook off two more Chicago players and whipped a pass across the crease for Piccinich, who tapped it in for his second of the night and 12th of the season.

"The puck got chipped down and he beat their 'D,' then he beat two more guys," Piccinich said. "I was just there. It was obviously a great play by Kyle."

But despite being outshot 15-6 in the second period, the Steel were able to take a 3-2 lead into the intermission when Connor Yau tapped in a rebound on a power play with just 1:28 remaining.

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