The Team | COUNTDOWN (21): Phantoms vs. Indiana | ||||
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INDIANA ICE @ YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMS COVELLI CENTRE, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009
GAME PREVIEW
Fresh off a two-game weekend sweep of the Chicago Steel, the Youngstown Phantoms play the final tilt of a five-game homestand against the second-place Indiana Ice. The defending Clark Cup champions surged past the Phantoms 6-2 on Opening Night Oct. 3 after Youngstown held a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.
In their 3-1 win over Chicago Saturday, the Phantoms (10-8-2=22 pts, 5th in East) tied a season-low for goals allowed and came within 4:36 of delivering G Matt Mahalak his first USHL shutout. Following this matchup with Indiana, Youngstown will arrive at the end of a 12-game stretch during which 10 were at home; the team is 6-4-1 since that span began Nov. 5, with two of those losses occurring on the road.
Indiana (12-8-1=25 pts, 2nd in East) completed a three-games-in-three-days gauntlet last weekend with an impressive 4-2 triumph Saturday in Omaha against the league-leading Lancers. F Antti Roppo scored the game-winning goal on the power play in the third period and D Justin Agosta added two assists as the Ice put a three-game losing streak to a halt.
PHANTOM PHACTS
· F Brian Dowd recorded an assist on F Adam Berkle’s game winner Saturday to stretch his Phantoms season-best scoring streak to five games, but his reliable offensive play dates back further than a handful of contests. The former Niagara University Purple Eagle has taken it to a new level in his second USHL season, netting at least a point in 11 of his last 13 games (five goals, eight assists during that span).
· Another USHL veteran forward has located his scoring touch, as Tom Serratore, who spent the last two seasons as a Sioux City Musketeer, has climbed to within five points of F Taylor Holstrom’s team-leading total of 17. Serratore went scoreless the first eight games of the season but broke out Oct. 31 with two goals and an assist at Fargo and hasn’t looked back.
· F Joe Zarbo scored the first goal in Phantoms franchise history at 5:36 of the first period Oct. 3 vs. Indiana; D Dan Senkbeil earned the lone assist. F Brett Gensler made it 2-0 in favor of Youngstown when he deflected D Andrej Sustr’s point shot past Ice G Casey DeSmith later in the frame.
ICE INSIGHTS
 · The only league defenseman to top his team’s scoring list, Nick Bailen has 16 points and has already matched last year’s career-high 13 assists. The rare fourth-year USHL player, Bailen has five points in his previous five games, including a three-assist night Dec. 3 at Sioux Falls. In the goal category, the Finnish-born Roppo’s 12 have set the early pace for Indiana, with F Max Cook in second with seven.
· Last in the 14-team league in penalty minutes with 280, the Ice nonetheless have D Anthony Bitetto to handle any rough stuff. In his second year with Indiana, Bitetto fought Phantoms F Cody Strang on Opening Night, but his 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and +6 rating suggest his skills go beyond playing the enforcer role.
· F Shane Berschbach’s pair of tallies Oct. 3 helped the Ice overcome an early two-goal deficit with a six-goal burst. Berschbach scored on the power play, then at even strength to put visiting Indiana on top 3-2 heading for the third period. Roppo’s two goals in the final period subsequently put the game out of reach.
UPCOMING GAMES AT THE COVELLI CENTRE…
Thursday at 7:15 p.m. vs. Indiana – Phantoms Furry Friends Night / Bring any pet care product to the Covelli Centre and receive a half-priced ticket! Visit www.angelsforanimals.org to ensure $3 from your ticket goes to Angels for Animals, which provides education and solutions to pet overpopulation in our region. Be on the lookout for special furry guests throughout the night!
Tuesday, December 29 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Waterloo – Christmas Gift Exchange / Bring your unwanted holiday gifts to the game in exchange for a half-priced ticket to the game – all collected gifts will be donated to the Salvation Army! Also, enjoy $2 pretzels, hot dogs and pops all night long!
Friday, January 8 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Fargo – New Year New You & Bargain Beer Night / Watch the Phantoms host the Force for the first time and enjoy $1 drafts all night long! Further details to come on this promotional night…
CATCH PHANTOMS PHEVER!
Phantoms Phever, presented by House of Speed, is an hour-long weekly talk show that brings you an inside look at your Youngstown Phantoms. Join Voice of the Phantoms Matt Gajtka at Jeremiah Bullfrog’s Sports Bar & Grille on US Route 224 in Boardman as he chats with coaches, players and front office staff about northeast Ohio’s most exciting team and the great sport of hockey. Catch Phantoms Phever Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on Youngstown’s ESPN Radio 1240 AM and online at www.wbbw.com!
FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONG
ESPN 1240 is also the exclusive radio home for the Youngstown Phantoms! Matt Gajtka has the call from all 60 Phantoms regular season games as they roll through their first-ever campaign in the Tier I United States Hockey League. Hockey nuts outside the listening area can log onto www.wbbw.com to utilize the “Listen Live” feature! Fans may also purchase the Phantoms season pass at www.b2tv.com to watch and listen via the B2 Networks’ multimedia game broadcasts.
Also, make “Youngstown Phantoms” your friend on Facebook and follow “ytownphantoms” on Twitter to stay plugged into the Phantoms 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
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