Phantoms score 5-2 win over Ice Diggers

Owen Meyers scored two goals as Mahoning Valley swept the series.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Owen Meyer's two goals plus a goal and assist by Matt Atsoff helped the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to a 5-2 victory over the Alpena Ice Diggers Saturday night in North American Hockey League action at The Ice Zone.
The Phantoms swept the weekend series with the Ice Diggers, improving to 11-8-1 (23 points) overall to go three points ahead of Traverse City for third-place in the league's North Division.
They have now won all four meetings with Alpena this season, outscoring their archrival by an 18-7 margin.
The Ice Diggers fell to 5-15-3 (13 points) and have dropped eight of their last nine contests to remain in last place in the division.
Lots of penalties
The game featured 24 penalties, including 13 which were whistled on the Phantoms.
Ninety minutes were spent by the two teams in the penalty box with Mahoning Valley head coach Bob Mainhardt ejected by referee Tom Steinel at the 7:20 mark of the opening period.
"I was surprised, quite frankly, to get the heave-ho," Mainhardt said. "It is our job to develop both officials and players for the NHL, so to get ejected that early in the game was surprising to me.
"I'd have to say that Alpena is our archrival and the two teams play exactly like that. We both came into the league at the same time, both have excellent programs and we're both very intense teams on the ice.
"After the ejection, our guys really responded and that obviously made me very happy."
At the time of the ejection, the Phantoms led 1-0 on the strength of Jake Roadhouse's first goal of the season at the 10:12 mark.
Build 3-0 lead
The Phantoms increased their lead to 3-0 when Meyer scored the first of his two goals at the 11:09 mark of the second period and Atsoff followed with his second goal of the year just 1:15 later.
Anthony McIntyre's power play goal at 3:26 of the second period then got the Ice Diggers on the board cutting the Phantoms lead to 3-1.
Atsoff and Jason Simota assisted Drew Satterly on his ninth goal of the year at 12:50 for a 4-1 advantage, but Zach Barron's put back at 7:46 cut the Mahoning Valley lead to 4-2.
Meyer's second goal of the game, an empty netter with 15 seconds remaining, rounded out the scoring.
"I really feel good about our play this weekend," Mainhardt said. "[Owen] Meyer has been dominating at times over the past several weeks and when he is on, he is a very tough customer to deal with.
"[Ryan] Zapolski was excellent in goal for us as well. He looks more and more comfortable each and every time out, and we all know how important that is. He is the most important guy on the ice."
Phantoms get more shots
The Phantoms outshot the Ice Diggers, 48-37, as Zapolski rejected 35 Alpena shots to improve to 8-4-1 on the season.
These teams will square off again this weekend in the first of a two-game weekend series.
Game time is 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Alpena's Northern Lights Arena.