ICE HOCKEY Phantoms checked by league's top team

The Soo Skaters had their way at the Ice Zone for a 6-1 victory.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- R.G. Flath and Derek Punches each scored two goals, Justin Gutwald added four assists and the Soo Skaters broke the game wide open with a four-goal second period, as the Indians defeated the Youngstown Phantoms, 6-1, in a Junior A North American Hockey League game Friday night at The Ice Zone.
It was the first of a two-game set this weekend between the teams, which concludes tonight at 7 at the Ice Zone. "Our guys are playing really well right now," Indian coach Joe Shaun said.
"Youngstown is a nice team and a strong addition to the NAHL," he added. "This is a beautiful facility -- one that was good to us tonight."
On a roll
The win enabled Soo to remain undefeated and atop the NAHL Northern Division with a 13-0-5 mark. It was their sixth straight win.
The loss dropped the Phantoms to 8-3-4 overall and 2-2-3 in their last seven contests. After playing eight straight road contests, the game marked the Phantoms' first home outing since Oct. 10.
"I'll probably wear out the game film tonight," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "Soo is an excellent ball club and they sure proved that tonight.
"Once we fell behind, we got away from our game plan and I take the blame for that," he added. "We're young and we pushed the panic button. We're normally a very disciplined club."
Taking over
Flath was a one-man wrecking crew in the first period. Gutwald assisted on his first goal at 6:25 of the opening period as Soo took a 1-0 advantage.
Flath added an unassisted goal at 15:47 for a 2-0 Indian advantage. When Youngstown's Jim Roach (assisted by Tommy Kolar) scored at 18:27 of the opening stanza, the Phantoms cut the Soo lead to 2-1 after the first 20 minutes.
"We got caught up behind the play quite a bit tonight," Mainhardt said. "We cut the margin to 2-1 but couldn't maintain the momentum."
Soo scored four unanswered goals in the second period for a 6-1 advantage.
Gutwald assisted Logan Bittle on the Soo's third goal of the game at 2:59 for a 3-1 Indian advantage.
"The third goal of the game was definitely the defining point of the game for us," Shaun said.
Adding on
Punches added his two goals at the 14:21 and 17:32 marks for a 5-1 Indian advantage. When Andrew Broughton scored with just 1:07 remaining in the second period, the Indians had a 6-1 advantage.
"It's early in the season and you can't panic when you are down 6-1," Mainhardt said. "I expect us to come back strong in the nightcap of the series tomorrow night."
Soo held a 44-17 shots-on-goal advantage as the Indians' Derek MacIntyre turned back 16 Phantom attempts. The Indians held a 22-5 shots-on-goal advantage in the critical second period.