After shootout loss, break is due

Mahoning Valley (17-9-3) won't play again until after the first of the year.
By Greg Gulas
Vindicator Correspondent
BOARDMAN -- Colin Wilson, Ryan Hayes, Kevin Shattenkirk and John Albert each registered goals in the shootout session as the U.S. National Under-17 squad defeated the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, 5-4, Saturday night to gain a split in their weekend series at The Ice Zone.
Trailing 2-0 after the first period of play, USNTDP scored four unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead, only to have the Phantoms score twice with less than three minutes to play to force overtime.
After a scoreless overtime period, USNTDP won the shootout by a 4-1 count, the only Phantom goal coming off the stick of Mike Maltese.
"We played well most of the game but had some spots where we got away from the game plan," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "That cost us because we had some missed scoring opportunities and gave up a lot more defensively than we did during our game with them on Friday night.
Satisfied with results
"We still need to work on some things in order to be a good team but to be 5-0-2 in regulation on this current homestand is definitely something that we can build on. We'll break for the holidays then come back after the first of the year ready to go right back at it."
Marc Menzione had an excellent weekend for the Phantoms. With a hat trick and an assist in Saturday's game, his three points during Friday's win (two goals and an assist) gave him seven points in the two-game set against USNTDP. He took over the team lead with 16 goals, and remained the team scoring leader with 41 points.
"[Marc] Menzione had a great game and an excellent weekend overall for us," Mainhardt said. "He played well all weekend against the league's top team and that is all you can ask a player to do."
With the win, USNTDP improved to 20-7-4 (44 points) to remain atop the league's North Division by four points over the Cleveland Barons (18-12-4).
The Phantoms (17-9-3) remain in third-place, just three points behind the Barons.
Menzione's first goal of the night at 10:09 gave the Phantoms the early lead. He added his second goal at 4:12 of the opening session, giving Mahoning Valley a 2-0 lead.
Lopsided shot count
USNTDP then outshot the Phantoms 17-9 in the second period. The only goal came off of Matt Rust's slap shot as USNTDP cut the Phantom lead to 2-1 heading into the final 20 minutes of play.
Three unanswered goals by James VanRiemsdyk (17:01), Shattenkirk (12:49) and Hayes (5:10) in the third period helped USNTDP forge a 4-2 lead.
The Phantoms' Drew Satterley then cut the margin to 4-3 with his 15th goal of the season at 2:22 while Menzione's goal with 1:06 remaining would force the overtime session.
USNTDP outshot the Phantoms, 43-27 as Brad Phillips improved to 7-4-2 when in goal for the division leaders.
Ryan Zapolski stopped 35 USNTDP shots and is now 13-5-3 in goal for the Phantoms.