USHL Youngstown Phantoms

Team USA Lands Final Blow In 4-3 Win

Published on December 12, 2009 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release


ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Despite rallying from behind on three separate occasions, including twice in the third period, the Youngstown Phantoms were edged out by the US National Team's Under-17 squad 4-3 Saturday afternoon at the Ice Cube. The teams split the weekend's two-game series, with both contests decided by a single goal.

Rocco Grimaldi, who had two goals and four assists against Youngstown this weekend, swept in a backhander with 4:06 to go to provide the winning margin. The Phantoms' Jefferson Dahl had just tipped teammate Dave Donnellan's point shot into the net 35 seconds earlier to tie the game 3-3.

The teams entered the third period tied at one goal apiece, but the scoring pace quickly picked up in the final frame. Robbie Russo's power-play wrister found twine at the 7:34 mark to push Team USA back on top 2-1, only to be answered by Youngstown's Taylor Holstrom at 12:31. Holstrom popped in the rebound of Brett Gensler's turning shot with the Phantoms on a five-on-three power play.

The seesaw battle soon continued with a shorthanded goal off the stick of Team USA's Blake Pietila. J.T. Miller's pass set him up on the inner edge of the right circle for an open snap shot that beat Phantoms goalie Matt Mahalak, who made 14 saves in his second consecutive start.

Dahl's tip-in knotted the proceedings one more time just before Team USA's Tyler Biggs' major penalty for grabbing Scott Mayfield's facemask expired. The Phantoms swarmed the Red, White and Blue's net in the final minutes while enjoying a couple of late power plays but couldn't squeeze another equalizer past goalie Matt McNeely.

After being forced to kill 11 penalties Friday night in their OT victory, the Phantoms took four minors in the first period Saturday but still managed to outshoot Team USA 10-5 in a scoreless frame.

Tyler Biggs earned Team USA's fourth power-play goal of the weekend 1:46 into the second when he collected a fortunate bounce of a Phantoms leg and buried his second of the year past a helpless Matt Mahalak. Rocco Grimaldi's shot from the right circle was blocked, but it deflected directly to Biggs in the left circle.

A Phantoms power play directly contributed to Nick Czinder's equalizer with 3:53 to go in the middle frame, even though it wasn't technically scored on the man-advantage. Youngstown created numerous chances after Blake Pietila was sent off for cross checking at 13:49, and the puck possession paid off after the teams returned to even strength as Czinder hacked in the rebound of Brett Gensler's close-range shot.

Youngstown continues a four-game road swing with a Friday matchup in Indianapolis with the defending Clark Cup champion Indiana Ice. Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time. Follow the Phantoms on the road via Youngstown's ESPN 1240 (www.wbbw.com) and the B2 Networks at www.b2tv.com.

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United States Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2009


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