Treat, not trick for Yo. hockey

The Phantoms beat the Cleveland Barons, 3-2, in Junior A, North American Hockey League action.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Rob Rassey, Marc Menzione and Mark Zarbo each scored a goal, and Jeremy Smith added two assists as the Youngstown Phantoms defeated the Cleveland Barons, 3-2 in Junior-A, North American Hockey League action Saturday night at The Ice Zone.
With the win the Phantoms (8-4-0, 16 points) won for the second time in as many nights at home, having now won seven of their last eight outings after a 1-3 season start.
"It's great to finally be home after playing your first 10 games of the year on the road," Phantom head coach Bob Mainhardt said. "We played our type of game tonight; a strong defensive game while taking care of our own zone. That really pleases me."
Power-play goal
Rassey got the Phantoms on the board first with his power-play goal at the 9:50 mark of the opening period. Smith and Anthony Canzoneri both assisted on his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
The Barons, 5-9-1, knotted the game at a goal apiece at 18:03 of the second period when Carter Camper and John Goebel assisted Nick Biondo on his goal. The score remained that way heading into the final 20 minutes of play.
Menzione's tally, a shorthanded goal with an assist from Smith at 17:44 of the final period gave the Phantoms a one goal lead and when Ciraulo assisted Zarbo on his goal at 11:38, the Phantoms increased their lead to 3-1.
Jake Coyle's unassisted goal just 13 seconds later cut the Phantom margin to 3-2, but that's the closest Cleveland could get the rest of the way as it fell for the ninth time in 16 outings.
The Barons pulled goalie Blake MacNicol with 50 seconds remaining but could not find the net despite the skater advantage.
The Phantoms held a 35-24 shots on goal edge with goalie Tommy O'Brien stopping 22 Baron shots on the night.
Confidence surfaced
"We have tremendous confidence in both of our goalies and [Tommy] O'Brien showed you why tonight," Mainhardt said. "With both O'Brien and [Jerry] Kuhn in goal for us, we like our chances every night when we hit the ice."
O'Brien, playing in just his third game of the season, upped his record to 2-1 when goal for the Phantoms.
The Phantoms will return to the ice next Friday night when they play host to the Toledo Ice Diggers at The Ice Zone. Face-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.