The Mahoning Valley Phantoms - Weekend preview

On deck: The Mahoning Valley Phantoms play host to the St. Louis Bandits Friday and Saturday at The Ice Zone. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.
Internet: All the games will be broadcast on www.mvphantoms.com.
In the hunt: Mahoning Valley (24-11-4, 52 points) enters this weekend in third place in the NAHL North, one point behind the surging Alpena Ice Diggers in second place. The Ice Diggers have a 13-1-2 record in their last 16 games.
Streaking Bandits: St. Louis (33-7-1, 67 points) not only sits in first place in the NAHL North, but is also nine points better than any team in the North American Hockey League. The Bandits won both games against the Phantoms last weekend. “We have to make some adjustments and see where we need to improve, but I don’t think we need to press the panic button by any means,” says Phantoms head coach Bob Mainhardt. “There were a lot of positives and some big negatives, but we don’t want to dwell on those too much. We’ll make our adjustments and move on.”
Home sweet home: The Phantoms own an 11-3-1 record at home this season. While playing in their own building is an advantage by itself, the fact that the team is not facing the Bandits on the extra-wide Olympic ice sheet at the Summit Center (where St. Louis plays its home games) will be even more beneficial. The Ice Zone is 15 feet smaller in width than the Summit Center.
Injury trouble: Seven different players missed Saturday’s game due to injury. Veteran forward Johnny Meo has picked up some of the slack lately, although he’s banged up himself, missing his two front teeth due to an injury sustained during the recent Phantoms Showcase. Meo collected two goals and an assist last weekend, and is tops on the team with five points in the four games this season against the Bandits.
Bouncing back: The key for the Phantoms will be bouncing back from recent adversity, particularly last weekend’s losses. “I think it was a learning experience. Everyone took something from it,” said assistant captain Eric Ringel. “We have to focus our energy and come out this weekend and show why we are still one of the best teams in the league.”

Mahoning Valley Phantoms