Express tops Phantoms for 3rd place

The expansion team used five different players to score six goals.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Pat Cullen's statement that his team's identity didn't hinge on one line or one man was borne out Saturday afternoon, when the Southern Minnesota Express got six goals from five players in beating the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, 6-2, at the Ice Zone.
"One of the things that's been a staple of this team is that we're deep," Cullen said of the contributions of various player combinations that gave the NAHL expansion team a third-place finish in the Robertson Cup.
Leading the way was Ryan Guentzel, whose two goals within 7:46 lifted Southern Minnesota from a 1-1 tie.
Southern Minnesota's 3-1 lead wasn't totally safe, however, as Mahoning Valley pulled within 3-2 on Matt Atsoff's goal just two minutes into the third period.
The Express then blitzed the Phantoms with two quick goals within 42 seconds before adding a sixth goal in the final minute.
First Phantom goal
Brent Dexter had Mahoning Valley's first goal halfway through the first period exactly seven minutes after James Gaulrapp put Southern Minnesota on the board.
Although the Express benefited from four power-play goals, Cullen felt most comfortable when the teams were even.
"Once we were able to play 5-on-5, we felt play was in our favor," he said. "We took more penalties than we wanted to, but when it was 5-on-5, I felt like we had more offensive weapons."
Conversely, Mahoning Valley coach Bob Mainhardt was pained by his team's weak penalty killing.
"Our penalty kill was an issue here and that's one of the things that, after a month off, is going to be a problem," he said. "We struggled a little bit, while they capitalized on their opportunities."
Rematch of Thursday
Saturday's game was a rematch of Thursday, when the Express won, 5-2. It was also Southern Minnesota's fourth game in four days.
"I'd like to think they'd be ready to go for three straight periods, but it's not always the easiest thing to do," Cullen said.
The game's momentum swung back and forth as the Phantoms ruled the shots-on-goal in the first period, 18-8, before the Express took control with a 17-5 advantage in the second period.
Southern Minnesota had one more in the end, 37-36.
Jesse Junkermeier, Sean Murphy and Mike Montgomery had Southern Minnesota's other three goals.
Mainhardt wasn't thrilled that the Express' most successful period was the last, but his reasoning for coaching moves made sense.
"There's a point where you want to get some guys some ice time. It's your 20-year-olds' last hurrah. And we got some other younger guys in the lineup who hadn't played in awhile. So, it was a matter of putting the horses out and letting them run. We ended up on the wrong side of it today."
Backup get work
Backup goalie Bryce Merriam was one of them.
"We gave our young goaltender a shot in the third period, which may or may not have been real fair to him," Mainhardt said. "He's a young kid, but he came in and did his best."
Cullen was happy with the game's outcome, but he wasn't totally satisfied with his team's finish.
"We expected to win this. We're disappointed. Coming in, we thought we had enough to be in the final game."
Mainhardt thought that both teams created a lot of opportunities, but Mahoning Valley couldn't convert, especially when the Phantoms were tied or trailed by one three times (1-0, 1-1, 2-1 and 3-2).
"At this time of the season you've got to get those bounces and finish your opportunities. We just had a hard time. Hats off to Minnesota. They played a very strong game and the goaltender played a very strong game again as well."
bassetti@vindy.com