Phantoms win on Simota's goal

Mahoning Valley gained a fifth and deciding game against the Barons, 6-5.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- With their playoff backs against the wall, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms were looking for someone to step his game up a notch with the hopes of forcing a fifth and deciding game today in their best-of-five semifinal series against the Cleveland Barons.
It took an overtime session, but Jason Simota did exactly that.
Simota's goal at 5:25 of overtime lifted the Phantoms to a thrilling, 6-5 victory over the Barons to force the rubber game of their North Division series today at Lakefront Lines Arena in Parma.
Game time is 3:30 p.m.
No fewer than 13 of the Phantoms' 20 players ended up in the scoring column.
"This was a very emotional game. We said early in the season that when you spread the scoring around, good things happen and that was the case for us tonight," Phantom head coach Bob Mainhardt said.
"We are at our best when we spread the scoring around. We've played four one-goal games in the series thus far and I would expect the same to be true in the final game as well.
Zapolski wins in goal
Ryan Zapolski, who rejected 32 Baron shots on the night, posted the win in goal for Mahoning Valley.
"These are two tired hockey teams, but adrenaline will take over tomorrow once the puck is dropped," Mainhardt said. "This was one heckuva game for us tonight. Our boys just refused to be denied."
Tomas Petruska, who registered a hat trick for the Barons, got Cleveland on the board first at 11:06 of the opening period with the first of four Baron power play goals on the night.
That would be the only score in the first 20 minutes of play.
The Phantoms' Mark Bores then knotted the game at 1-all with his first playoff goal at 2:03 of the second stanza. It would be the first of four Mahoning Valley scores in the period.
Four unanswered goals
Petruska's second goal, an unassisted score at 5:01 and Carter Camper's power play netter at 7:24 helped the Barons to a 3-1 lead, but four unanswered goals by the Phantoms, three of which came in the second frame within a 2:07 span, helped Mahoning Valley build a 5-3 advantage.
Goals by Brent Dexter (8:33), Marc Menzione (9:17) and Dennis Urban (10:40) then helped the Phantoms forge a 5-3 lead with just 20 minutes left in regulation.
Jake Coyle's goal at 17:59 of the final period increased the Phantom lead to 5-3, but goals by Eric Rex (16:02) and the hat trick by Petruska at 9:07 were just enough to force the overtime session.
Each team had several scoring opportunities at the outset of overtime, but Simota, with assists from both Matt Atsoff and Dexter, made the most of his chance and registered the game-winner.
Cleveland was an impressive 4 of 7 in power play opportunities while the Phantoms converted just one time (they had three tries) when they held a man advantage.
The Phantoms held a 38-37 shots on goal advantage.