USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Power Play Clicks Again, But Jacks Best Phantoms

Published on December 29, 2013 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


MUSKEGON, Michigan - The Youngstown Phantoms' power play has been at the forefront this weekend during the team's "three-in-three" series, for both good reasons and bad. On Friday night, the Phantoms conceded two shorthanded goals to Indiana en route to a 4-0 loss. On Saturday, the man advantage accounted for four goals in a game that the Phantoms narrowly dropped to the Ice.

On Sunday, to conclude the weekend, the Phantoms again looked good on the power play, scoring twice there (in addition to three goals overall), but in the end, the Muskegon Lumberjacks skated away with a 5-3 victory over starting goaltender Colin DeAugustine and Youngstown at the L.C. Walker Arena, thanks in part to a hat trick by Matt Iacopelli.

Echoing his sentiments after Saturday's game, coach Anthony Noreen did not take fault with his team's effort on Sunday afternoon. Indeed, the Phantoms narrowly missed on several chances throughout the game, and fought hard in the third period, outshooting the Lumberjacks to the tune of 16-3 in the final stanza.

"I thought we were a little sluggish to start, which is probably the result of three games in three days," said Noreen. "I thought we started getting going towards the end of the second, and especially in the third. I thought we had our legs, I thought we were creating.

"It's been eerily similar to a lot of games recently, where it's [hitting] one post in the first, two in the second, three in the third-it's almost tough to hit that many posts in a game. You give up five [goals], which is never acceptable, but at the same point, we had our chances to win the game. We had our chances to make it even, we had our chances to get back in it. If this team was giving up, if this team was quitting, if this team was doing anything that we didn't want, you'd be really upset, but there's so much fight in these guys, and that's what we love about them. You feel like good things are coming."

One Phantom who continues to fight exceptionally well is forward Maxim Letunov, who was again brilliant on Sunday, recording one goal and one assist, the latter coming on a beautiful backdoor feed to Zach Evancho.

"Of course it's frustrating losing so many games in a row, but I think we can get better-much better," said the native of Moscow, Russia. "We just have to score five-on-five goals and be more disciplined."

While six of the seven goals scored by the Phantoms this weekend came on the power play, coach Noreen approved of his team's five-on-five effort tonight.

"I thought we created some five-on-five, and I thought a lot of our creating five-on-five is what led to those power plays. You have to bury chances. We had [Lumberjack goaltender Eric Schierhorn] down and out probably seven or eight times at five-on-five, [but we] found a pipe, found the glass, or found him some way. We have to find more ways to put pucks in the net."

The first period's only goal went to Iacopelli and Muskegon. In the second, Iacopelli notched his second of the night, but JJ Piccinich got it right back when he converted a Luke Stork rebound on the power play at 2:28. The Jacks got the next two, including Iacopelli completing his hat trick, but just before the middle stanza ended, Letunov scored a power play goal of his own, tapping in a cross-crease pass from Piccinich.

In the third, Muskegon took their advantage to 5-2 at 4:05. Sensing something had to be done to shift momentum, acting captain Josh Nenadal decided to take matters into his own hands, engaging in a fight with Alex Toscano-a thunderous duel that featured some heavy shots tossed in either direction.

"I knew the position we were in, we needed some momentum there," said Nenadal. "I knew [Toscano] was willing to fight. I asked him-he thought about it for a while, I guess. Finally, as I was getting off of the ice, he asked me, so I took charge and went after him."

Nenadal said he "absolutely" was fighting for a purpose in an attempt to give his team some life-a response that Noreen loved to see.

"It's what we needed. It's a 5-2 game, he goes out and [fights], we score a goal, and we get right back in the game. That's the reason why we love Josh, that's the reason why he has the 'C' on his chest right now. He wants to win. There's no doubt about it. If you told him he had to run through a brick wall to get one win, he would do it, and he wouldn't question it for a second. I thought that was a great example of it."

While Letunov would complete his backdoor feed to Evancho after the fight, that would be all the remaining offense Youngstown could muster despite a few near misses in the third period, falling to the Lumberjacks by a 5-3 final.

"We just need to find a way to win a hockey game, and it's tough," said Noreen." When you're in a rut, it's a tough thing. It's a tough thing to get out of. That's why there are streaks in sports. You feel like if we can just get one of these to go the other way, if we can find a way, it'll turn. It's easier said than done. As a coach, as a player, I've said it a million times: there are two ways you can handle it. You can feel bad, and you can give up, or you can keep fighting and work to get better, and that's what we have to do right now."

Phantoms by the Numbers

Shots - 36

Saves - 24

Power Play - 2/8

Penalty Kill - 4/6

Goals - Piccinich (17), Letunov (13), Evancho (6)

Assists - Stork (4), Connor (22), Piccinich (11), Sherwood (11), Letunov (14)

Next on the Slate

The Phantoms will begin a seven-game homestand with a one-game weekend this Friday at the Covelli Centre, when the Chicago Steel visit the Mahoning Valley. It will be "Family Night" at the Covelli Centre: a four-pack of tickets is available for just $20.

Single game tickets are on sale now for all Phantoms' home games at the Covelli Centre. Phantoms 10-Game Flex Plans are also available starting at the low price of just $89. Call 330.747.PUCK (7825) for more information or to reserve seats today. For all the latest news, visit www.YoungstownPhantoms.com, follow the Phantoms on Twitter (@YtownPhantoms) and 'like' them on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/YoungstownPhantoms).

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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