SCOUTING REPORT Youngstown Phantoms

The match-up: The Junior-A North American Hockey League presents the Cleveland Barons (10-5-1, 21 points) vs. the Youngstown Phantoms (9-4-4, 22 points); Tonight and Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Ice Zone.
The series: This is the second series of the season between Youngstown and Cleveland. The two teams played a home-and-home series October 10-11. The Barons entered that weekend with a 5-1-1 record, but the Phantoms came out on top both nights, winning 3-0 and 7-2. On October 10 at The Ice Zone, Youngstown goaltender Tyler Sims stopped 24 shots and posted his first shutout of the season. Then on October 11 up in Cleveland, the Phantoms got goals from seven different players in a lopsided victory. That remains the most goals Youngstown has scored in any game this season.
Notes: The Phantoms have lost three of their past four games. After beating the team with the best record in the NAHL North -- the Soo Indians -- last Saturday, the Phantoms lost to the team with the worst record in the division -- the Toledo Ice Diggers -- Wednesday night. Sims turned in a Herculean effort in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Indians, stopping 38 of 39 shots, and handing the Soo their first loss of the season. Rob Rassey and Brian Moore each had a goal and an assist in Wednesday's 4-2 loss at Toledo. Youngstown had registered at least one point in the standings in 12 straight games before losing, 6-1, to the USA 17-and-Under National Team on October 29 in Ann Arbor. The Barons, who last saw action on Sunday when they notched a 6-2 victory over the Dayton Gems, enter this series on a three-game winning streak. The Phantoms enter this weekend's action in fourth place in the NAHL North, one point ahead of fifth-place Cleveland.
Statistics: Carson Strang leads the Phantoms in scoring with 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) and fellow center Tommy Kolar is second with 15 (five goals, 10 assists). Youngstown won six straight games between September 27 and October 16, but has gone 3-3-3 since. Cleveland is led by brothers Mike and Matt Ruberto. Mike, a forward, has a team-high 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) and Matt, a defenseman, has contributed 19 points (two goals, 17 assists). Forward Brian Bicek had a pair of goals in the Barons' 6-2 win over Dayton on Sunday. He is second on the club with 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists).
Home team: Youngstown has won four of the five games played at The Ice Zone this season.
Tickets: Tickets for this weekend's series vs. the Cleveland Barons -- and all Phantoms home games -- are available by calling (330) 965-7500 or visiting The Ice Zone, which is located at 360 McClurg Road in Boardman. Tickets are also available at the door on game days. Individual game tickets are priced at $9 for Club Level seats, $7 for General Admission, and $5 for children ages 10 and under. Season ticket packages and group discounts (20 or more) are also available.
-- Phantoms