Phantoms blow lead to Barons

The teams play in Cleveland tonight, then return to the Ice Zone on Monday.
By GREG GULAS
Vindicator Correspondent
BOARDMAN -- The Cleveland Barons, hottest team in the North American Hockey League, squared off against the only undefeated team at home.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms and Barons had one goal in mind -- create some luck on the dreaded and unlucky Friday the 13th.
While the Phantoms looked like the team that would be the lucky ones when they jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage, it was the Barons on the lucky end of the stick as they scored three unanswered goals en route to a 3-2 victory over their North Division opponents at The Ice Zone.
Game-winner
Rikky Akkerman's power-play goal 1:05 into the final period, his third of the season, proved to be the game-winner.
The division-leading Barons (22-12-4, 48 points) won for the sixth straight time, copping their fourth straight road contest and in the process won for the 14th time in their last 15 outings.
"We were lucky to lose by just one goal tonight," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "They completely outplayed and outworked us in every phase of the game.
"We didn't stick to our game plan and it cost us," Mainhardt said. "We really didn't execute in any phase of our game and that to me was most disappointing."
Owen Meyer got the Phantoms on the board first when his 14th goal of the year rippled the net at the 12:30 mark of the opening period.
When John Kivisto's slapshot on the power play sailed past Barons goalie Bobby Jarosz at 8:50 of the second stanza, the Phantoms (19-10-3, 41 points) opened up a 2-0 advantage.
Trent Bonnet's unassisted goal at 15:13 of the second period sliced the Phantoms' lead in half.
And when Carter Camper's 23rd goal of the year got by Phantoms goalie Ryan Zapolski 94 seconds later, the Barons knotted the game at two goals apiece.
"This was a big win for us, especially since it came on the road in a very tough environment in which to play," Barons coach John Fritsche said.
Don't panic
"We preach patience; don't panic," Fritsche said. "You never win in the game in the first five minutes or the last five minutes so you must play a solid 60 minutes each and every time out.
"Tonight we played a solid 60 minutes, sacrificing self while playing with patience," Fritsche said." I credit our dressing room for our recent success in that they play within the team concept. That has been an important part of our game this year."
After Akkerman's third period goal, Zapolski rejected a Jeremy Tejchma penalty shot at 6:00 of the final period, but the Phantoms could not penetrate the Barons net the remainder of regulation.
Cleveland held a 39-37 shots on goal advantage with Zapolski rejecting 36 Cleveland attempts.
Jarosz registered 35 saves for the Barons.
The Phantoms finished their 10-game homestand with a 7-1-2 mark.
The two teams will meet in Cleveland tonight. Monday at 7 p.m., both teams will return to The Ice Zone for the final game of their three-game set.
The Barons are 4-3-1 against the Phantoms in their eight meetings.