Phantoms, Barons to battle tonight

Both teams are playing at their best going into the game at the Ice Zone.
BOARDMAN -- The Mahoning Valley Phantoms and the Cleveland Barons ice hockey teams have met seven times.
Meeting another seven times will further fuel what has become a fiery battle in Northeast Ohio.
The two hottest teams in the North American Hockey League begin a three-game series tonight at The Ice Zone. Faceoff is at 7 p.m.
In this corner, the Phantoms are 8-0-2 in their last 10 games and 15-3-3 in their last 21.
They have scored at least four goals in eight straight games and are 11-0-2 at home.
League's top scorers
They also feature two of the league's top 10 scorers in Marc Menzione (seventh) and Anthony Ciraulo (ninth).
In the other corner, the Barons have won five in a row and 13 of their last 14. Over that stretch, they have allowed three or fewer goals in every game.
They also feature the league's leading scorer in Carter Camper and Josh Leonard who is third.
Tonight's matchup begins a very busy stretch for the Phantoms; 10 games in 17 days. It's been seven weeks since the Phantoms' last 10 contests.
"Hopefully, what we consider to be our depth is going to pay off," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "Any one of those guys will tell you that they'd rather have 10 games in 17 days than 10 practices.
"We'd like to take the approach to make practice so hard that games are easy," Mainhardt said. "It's what these players have been sacrificing and waiting for a long time. Ten games in 17 days should be nothing but a big party."
Depth has been key
That depth has risen to the occasion. In last weekend's sweep of Traverse City, the Phantoms received goals from all four forward lines in Saturday's 4-3 win, and from three different lines in Sunday's 6-3 victory. At least three lines have contributed goals in six of the last eight games.
Two things have proven favorable for the Barons against the Phantoms this season -- the power play and the second period.
Whatever Cleveland coach Jack Fritsche tells his team in the locker room after the first period, it works. In seven games, Cleveland has outscored the Phantoms 15-8 in the middle period and opponents 55-33 overall this season; clearly their most efficient 20 minutes of work.
Cleveland also owns the league's second best power play at a rate of 22.3 percent. The Phantoms have contained Cleveland when shorthanded, killing 38 of 45 Barons power plays (84.4 percent.)