Teams Focus on Playoff Position as Phantoms Close Season
Published on March 25, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH - When the Mahoning Valley Phantoms close out the 2008-2009 regular season this week with a two-game series against the Alpena IceDiggers, both teams will have postseason positioning on their minds.
For the Phantoms (35-16-5, 75 pts), their second-ever regular season North Division crown is the goal, with Team USA (34-16-5, 73 pts) suddenly within one game of the front running Phantoms for the top spot in the division.
"The entire playoff race has come down to this last weekend," says Mahoning Valley defenseman and assistant captain Carl Nielsen. "We need to beat Alpena if we want to win the division, because USA is right on our heels for first place."
The IceDiggers, on the other hand, enter the series in a two-way tie with Marquette for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North. The 'Diggers currently hold the first tiebreaker of total wins over the Rangers.
On Thursday, the North Division rivals will hook up for the last regular season game at the Chevrolet Centre; a 7:15 PM start. Friday's season finale will be held at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
The games will be part of the Phantoms' "Fan Appreciation Week," during which the team is selling all tickets in the house on both nights on a "Buy One-Get One Free" basis while offering 40% off all Phantoms merchandise at the Team Shop during both games as well.
In six previous meetings, the Phantoms are 5-1-0 against the fourth-place IceDiggers.
The last time the two teams met, the Phantoms' offense erupted for wins of 6-1 and 9-2 at Alpena.
Forward Brandon Saad tallied the team's first hat trick of the season in the 9-2 triumph as the Phantoms set their season-high for goals against the reeling 'Diggers on January 31st.
First-year forward Erik Higby says the team needs to stick to a rather simple offensive philosophy to keep the goals coming against Alpena.
"Crashing the net will be key," says Higby, who has two goals and four assists in six games against the IceDiggers. "We've seen their goalies kick out bigger rebounds so we've got to be in position when they come."
Saad is the Phantoms' leader in goals with 29 and points with 46, while goalies Jordan Tibbett and Garrett Bartus have combined for a 2.96 GAA and a .901 SV%.
Alpena is led up front by Erik Peterson's 20 goals and 31 assists; netminder Nick Graves is the IceDiggers' main goaltender with a 22-18-5 record, a 2.73 GAA and a .909 SV%.
Thursday's game is scheduled for a 7:15 PM start at the Chevrolet Centre.
The contest will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 7:00 PM.
Phantoms playoff tickets are now on sale. For more information or to reserve your first round postseason seats, contact the Phantom Box Office at (330) 965-7500.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2009
- Phantom Alums Clean Up Division I Postseason Awards - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Teams Focus on Playoff Position as Phantoms Close Season - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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