The Team | TEAM USA STARTS STRONG, ROUTS PHANTOMS | ||||
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Defenseman Adam Clendening netted a pair of goals and former Mahoning Valley Phantom Brandon Saad rung up three assists to lead the way as the US National Team’s Under-18 squad outgunned the Youngstown Phantoms 9-3 Saturday night at the Ice Cube. Jacob Fallon potted three points (goal, two assists) and Austin Czarnik, Derek Forbort and Jared Tinordi each had a goal and a helper as Team USA dealt the Phantoms (12-11-2, 26 points) their widest margin of defeat through the season’s first 25 games. The previous mark was set Opening Night Oct. 3 in a 6-2 setback to Indiana at the Covelli Centre.
Jefferson Dahl scored a goal in his team-best third-straight game and Luke Eibler earned a pair of assists for Youngstown, which enters the holiday break tied with Chicago for fourth place in the East Division.
Saad helped get Team USA (8-14-3, 19 points) off to a good start, finding Fallon for a power-play goal only 1:23 into the contest. Fallon found room between Phantoms starting goalie Jordan Tibbett and the right post to sneak the icebreaker into the twine.
A quick two-goal burst by Team USA midway through the first frame added to the Phantoms troubles. Defenseman Stephen Johns (11:32) and Bill Arnold (11:55) nailed their first and third of the season, respectively, to make it a 3-0 Red, White & Blue lead.
A slam-dunk set-up from Czarnik to Nick Shore pushed the lead to four goals before the first intermission, prompting Phantoms Head Coach/GM Bob Mainhardt to insert Matt Mahalak in net, the first relief appearance by a Youngstown netminder this season.
Mahalak caught a tough break at 2:30 of the second when Czarnik’s centering pass from behind the net struck a Phantom defender and bounced in for Team USA’s fifth goal. The fluky play marked the first time all season that Youngstown trailed by five.
Dahl saved some face for the visitors when he converted the rebound from former high school teammate Dave Donnellan’s power-play drive 5:49 into the middle stanza. It was Dahl’s ninth of the campaign, tying him briefly with Brett Gensler and Nick Czinder for the team lead, as well as his third in three games; Jiri Sekac earned the secondary assist, his first USHL point.
Blueliner Clendening restored the five-goal Team USA advantage when Fallon sent a cross-rink pass his way for an open-net goal from the left circle at 13:10.
Tom Serratore (power play – 8:11) and Gensler (11:32) added goals for Youngstown in the third, both assisted by defenseman Eibler, but Team USA netted three in the penalty-laden final frame from defensemen Tinordi (8:35), Forbort (power play – 13:38) and Clendening (power play – 14:50), his second of the game, to close the scoring.
Mainhardt was ejected from the contest for abuse of officials amid a deluge of Phantoms penalties in the latter half of the third that led to two extended 5-on-3 power plays for the home side. Youngstown was whistled for five minor penalties in a span of 4:01.
The Phantoms outshot Team USA 40-30, but goaltender John Gibson was solid when he had to be, making 37 saves for his second USHL win. The Phantoms converted twice on eight power plays, while the Red, White & Blue went 4-for-11.
Go to http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1048957 for full box score.
The Phantoms return home following the USHL’s holiday break for a single game Tuesday, Dec. 29 against the Waterloo Blackhawks at 7:15 p.m. 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 and take advantage of the Phantoms’ Family Four Pack deal – four tickets for just $20 and $5 for any additional tickets.
Follow the Phantoms all season long via Youngstown’s ESPN 1240 (www.wbbw.com) and the B2 Networks at www.b2tv.com.
The Youngstown Phantoms are a Member Club of the United States Hockey League (USHL), America’s only Tier I hockey league and premier developer of National Hockey League talent with more than 100 alumni on current NHL rosters.
Visit www.youngstownphantoms.com or call the Front Office at 330.747.PUCK(7825) for more information on the Phantoms organization. The Youngstown Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company (Phantom Fireworks), located in Youngstown, Ohio.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 21 December 2009 09:57 ) |
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