Tight finish goes Waterloo's way, 3-1
February 5, 2010 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Youngstown Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Derek Arnold scored twice in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie and pushing the Waterloo Black Hawks to a 3-1 road decision over the Youngstown Phantoms Friday night.
With the score deadlocked midway through the final frame, J.T. Brown sprinted down the left boards and dealt a backhand pass to the charging Arnold at the right post for the go-ahead marker at 10:03. The quick combination play held up as the game winner, giving Waterloo (18-18-2, 38 points) its first win of February after a 7-3-1 January vaulted the Hawks into playoff contention.
Taylor Holstrom scored first for Youngstown (14-23-2, 30 points) for the second time in three games, but he couldn't prevent the Phantoms from extending their losing streak to six and falling eight points behind Waterloo for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division.
Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett made 31 saves, including two show stoppers on Tyler Zepeda in the early going to keep the game scoreless. He and Waterloo counterpart C.J. Motte (32 stops) were flawless in the first period as the Hawks outshot Youngstown 10-9.
A negated icing directly led to the first goal of the game, Holstrom's 11th of the season. Jiri Sekac won the race to Dave Donnellan's dump-in behind the Hawks' net and quickly spun the puck into the right circle for Holstrom, who drove a one-timer over Motte's glove.
The Phantoms took three straight penalties to close out the second and the Hawks made them pay by connecting on a power play at 15:02. After a goalmouth scramble, defenseman Zach Palmquist drove the puck back to the goal where it deflected into the wheelhouse of Tyler Barnes, who nailed his 20th into the open left side of the goal.
After Arnold's go-ahead goal in the third, the Phantoms kept the pressure on, drawing a power play on Brock Montpetit's tripping minor with eight minutes to go. But Motte and the Waterloo penalty killers shut it down from there, sending Youngstown into desperation mode.
Arnold sealed the deal in the final minute following frantic Youngstown pressure in the Waterloo zone, taking a transition pass from Montpetit for the empty-net clincher, his seventh, with 30 seconds left.
The Hawks and Phantoms lock horns at Covelli Centre again Saturday at 7:15 p.m. on Star Wars Night. Darth Vader, who will drop the puck, will join C-3PO and other famed characters at the game. Meet and take pictures with your favorites all night long!
Follow the Phantoms all season long via Youngstown's ESPN 1240 (www.wbbw.com) and the B2 Networks at www.b2tv.com.
United States Hockey League Stories from February 5, 2010
- Tight finish goes Waterloo's way, 3-1 - Youngstown Phantoms
- Hawks Foil Phantoms - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Sioux Falls In Town This Weekend - Sioux City Musketeers
- U.S. National U18 Team Blanks Lincoln, 3-0 - U.S. National Team
- Stampede's Voran Commits To Notre Dame - Sioux Falls Stampede
- Lancers Don'T Expect Moves Before Trade Deadline - Omaha Lancers
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.
