ICE HOCKEY Phantom Rockets lose third straight

Their coach was pleased with the effort against Traverse City.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Justin Barry had a goal and an assist and Nick Anton added two assists as the Traverse City (Mich.) Enforcers defeated the Mahoning Valley Phantom Rockets, 4-2, in a Continental East Hockey League game Sunday at The Ice Zone.
"Our defense and a little luck was on our side," said Traverse City coach Scott Gardiner. "We scored on a power play goal at the outset of the game and that seemed to set the tone for us.
"We're playing our best hockey of the season," he added. "We match up with the Phantom Rockets really well."
Losing skid
The Phantom Rockets (4-6-0) lost their third straight game and are 1-4-0 over their last five. The Enforcers (4-9-0) snapped a four-game tailspin.
"We played a good overall game," said Mahoning Valley coach Bob Hawthorne. "I felt that we outplayed them but didn't get the bounces."
The Enforcers got on the board first at 7:45 of the opening period when Justin Barry, assisted by both Nick Anton and Brad Peterson, scored on a power play goal.
The Phantom Rockets' Justin Cassel, assisted by Mike Hanna and Eric Mayhew, scored at 17:19 of the opening period to tie the score at 1.
The second period was all Enforcers as Ian Watson (assisted by Anton) and Ned Ryan (assisted by Barry) scored at 2:16 and 15:33, respectively, giving Traverse City a 3-1 lead.
Hanna's power play goal (assisted by Chad Blumes and goaltender Nick Signet) at 6:40 of the final period cut the Enforcers' lead to 3-2, but the Phantom Rockets pulled Signet with a minute remaining and the strategy backfired as Tyler Morris scored an unassisted goal with just 44 seconds remaining.
Getting their best
Seven of Traverse City's losses have come at the hands of Detroit (five) and Toledo (two), the top two teams in the league.
"I don't feel like we are a 4-9 club," Gardiner said. "We're playing the type of hockey right now that I feel we are capable of playing."
The Phantom Rockets had 31 shots on goal, with Enforcer goalie Charlie Burch rejecting 29. The Enforcers had 25 shots on goal, with Signet rejecting 21.
Hanna's goal and assist paced the Phantom Rockets.