Dennis Urban's OT goal is clincher for Phantoms

Mahoning Valley and the Blues return to the ice today for a 7 p.m. faceoff.
BOARDMAN -- Dennis Urban scored 1:44 into Friday's overtime to give the Mahoning Valley Phantoms a 2-1 win over the Springfield Jr. Blues in North American Hockey League (NAHL) action.
With teams skating four-on-four in the extra session, the Phantoms took advantage of the open ice to win the game.
Urban took a deflected pass from Tommy Upton on the left point, skated around a Blues forward and was then tied up by a second.
Urban cut into the slot, skating on one leg. When he got both hands on his stick, he unleashed a wrist shot over the left glove and shoulder of goaltender Mike Garman for his 11th goal of the season and his sixth game-winning goal.
Man advantage
The Blues (22-20-3) converted on their first power play opportunity. With Urban in the box for cross checking, Springfield took advantage of a line change.
With the puck sitting on the goal line, a clearing attempt was intercepted in the high slot by Paul Forselius. His one-timer beat Bryce Merriam to give Springfield the 1-0 lead.
The Phantoms (28-15-4) regrouped and controlled the better part of the second period. With a mad scramble in front of the Blues net, Drew Satterley batted down a loose puck with his glove at the top of the crease.
His shot was blocked as was Anthony Ciraulo's attempt, but Marc Menzione skated outside of the scrum in front, gathered the loose puck onto his backhand and floated one past a congested pack of players to tie it at 1-1. It was Menzione's 24th goal.
Merriam was forced to make six saves in the final two minutes of the period.
In overtime, the Blues had a chance to win it, but Ryan Hernandez's breakaway shot sailed high over the crossbar.
80 saves combined
Both goaltenders were magnificent in goal; Garman made 47 saves as his record went to 12-11-2. Merriam stopped 33 shots to improve to 11-5-0 on the season; lowering his goals against average from 3.32 to 3.17.
The Phantoms and the Blues will return to the ice today for a 7 p.m. faceoff.