The Team | COUNTDOWN TO PUCK DROP (10): vs. Des Moines | ||||
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DES MOINES BUCCANEERS @ YOUNGSTOWN PHANTOMSCOVELLI CENTRE, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIOTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2009 – 7:15 PMGAME PREVIEWWinners of two in a row for the second time in this young season, the Youngstown Phantoms return home to the Covelli Centre tonight to kick off the first of three five-game homestands on the schedule. The opponents for the next two nights are the Des Moines Buccaneers, who hit the road after a 2-1 homestand in Iowa’s capital city.
Youngstown (4-4-1=9 pts, 5th in East), still in search of its first home win of the season in three tries, looks to continue its solid play from last weekend in Fargo into the Covelli Centre. The Phantoms trumped the Force by scores of 3-1 and 6-3 last Friday and Saturday, respectively, and were led offensively by Brett Gensler, who added four more goals over the course of the two-game sweep.
Des Moines (4-5-0=8 pts, T-4th in West) has grabbed the last two in a row over Lincoln and Green Bay, both at Buccaneer Arena in Urbandale, Iowa. Chicago native and future attendee of the University of Notre Dame T.J. Tynan paces the Buccaneers offensively with four goals and 10 assists. His 14 points are good for sixth in the USHL scoring race.
PHANTOM PHACTS· Third-year USHL veteran forward Tom Serratore broke through in a huge way in last Saturday’s third period. With the score tied 2-2, Serratore set up Adam Berkle’s go-ahead goal, then scored two more of his own to help close out Fargo. Those three points were the first of the season for the young man from Colorado Springs, Colo.
· Each Phantoms goaltender earned a win last weekend and looked strong in the process. Matt Mahalak improved to 2-1-1 while stopping 20 of 21 shots in Friday’s 3-1 win, then Jordan Tibbett put his stamp on the two-game sweep, making key saves early and late to stabilize Youngstown’s 6-3 victory.
· Youngstown earned its first-ever USHL victory Oct. 10 in Des Moines, scoring five times in the opening 28 minutes to pull out a 5-4 result. Jefferson Dahl applied the noose to the Buccaneers in the second period, scoring at even strength and shorthanded 2:39 apart to chase goalie Eric Mihalik and rudely greet his backup Charles Williams.
BUCCANEER BITS· Westmount, Quebec’s Yasin Cisse claimed the season’s second hat trick last Saturday vs. Green Bay, scoring a goal in each period of a 5-2 home win. Cisse, who is tied for the team lead with four goals, tallied in the first period on the power play, in the second at even strength and salted the game away late with an empty-netter.
· The Phantoms’ surging power play (goals in six of last seven games) will face a stiff challenge this week against Des Moines, as the Bucs sport an 86 percent success rate on the penalty kill, good for third in the 14-team USHL. The visitors have stifled 43 of 50 power plays against on the season.
· The Bucs earned their first home win of the campaign Oct. 17 against visiting Youngstown by a 5-3 score. After the Phantoms had rallied from a 3-0 second-period deficit to tie the score heading into the third, Connor Brickley and Ryan Walters each lit the lamp to provide the final margin and send Youngstown to its first road loss.
UPCOMING GAMES AT THE COVELLI CENTRE…TONIGHT – Mascot Mania Night / Kids wearing Halloween costumes get in free! Featuring appearances by Sparky, the Cleveland Browns’ Chomps and other famous mascots.
Friday, November 6 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Des Moines – Bargain Beer Night presented by Back to Health Chiropractic / Enjoy $1 beers all night long! YSU students receive $4 tickets when presenting student ID at Covelli Centre Box Office. Wednesday, November 11 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Green Bay – Salute Our Troops on Veterans’ Day / $3 from each regularly-priced ticket goes to the USO (United Service Organizations) of Northern Ohio! Sign up at the game to send holiday greetings to overseas troops.
Friday, November 13 at 7:15 p.m. vs. Green Bay – Celebrate Friday the 13th / First 2,000 fans through the Covelli Centre gates receive a free Phantoms T-shirt courtesy of Callos. Meet pop star Joey Fatone (N*SYNC, Dancing with the Stars), who will be in the house!
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.
This week’s guests will be Head Coach/GM Bob Mainhardt, veteran USHL forward Mike Henderson and Steve Halloran from House of Speed. Catch Phantoms Phever Tuesdays at 6 p.m. on Youngstown’s ESPN Radio 1240 AM!
FOLLOW THE PHANTOMS ALL SEASON LONGESPN 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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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 November 2009 12:05 ) |
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