Phantoms stay unbeaten in Showcase, jar Rangers

The Phantoms will play again today at the Ice Zone against Traverse City.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms scored three goals in a 2:32 span of the second period, propelling them to a 6-3 victory over the Marquette Rangers in a North American Hockey League Showcase 2008 game Sunday at the Ice Zone.

Mahoning Valley’s (23-10-3) win, coupled with Alpena’s (23-13-2) setback earlier in the day to Team USA, vaulted the Phantoms into sole possession of second place in the North Division as they remained the only unbeaten team on the weekend.

“We set out hoping for a perfect weekend and with tonight’s win, we’ve put ourselves in a position to accomplish that goal. We haven’t gotten very many lucky bounces this season but that stretch in the second period, when we scored three times, surely was a turning point in the game,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said.

“Once again we stuck to our game plan, never skipping a beat with Jordan Tibbett in goal. All season long Jordan and Garrett [Bartus] have given us a chance to win, even in a loss so we realize just how important they are to our success,” he added.

Robert Harrison’s third goal of the season at 6:34 of the opening period staked Mahoning Valley to the early advantage. When James Gallagher’s slap shot registered just 44 seconds later, the game was knotted at 1-all.

The score remained tied until Johnny Meo’s wrister found the back of the net just 50 seconds before intermission, giving Mahoning Valley a 2-1 margin after the first period.

The second period has been good to the Phantoms all season long and Sunday night it was no different.

Three unanswered goals in the frame, from Miles Winter (12:24), Grant Blakey (13:19) and Chad Boeckman (14:56), gave Mahoning Valley a 5-1 margin.

Josh Kesler’s goal at 14:56 of the second stanza then cut the Phantoms’ lead to 5-2 with 20 minutes remaining.

Each team registered a goal in the final period, Kyle Verbeek for the Phantoms at 2:58 and Josh Bussell for Marquette (20-16-2).

Mahoning Valley held a 41-35 shots advantage while Tibbett rejected 32 Rangers’ shots for his sixth win of the season.

In other action Sunday, Chris Brown’s two goals and another by Kevin Lynch helped Team USA to a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over the Ice Diggers.

Alpena took the early lead on a goal by Russell Anderson at 9:53 of the opening period, but Brown’s first score at 12:40 tied the game at 1-all after the first 20 minutes.

A goal by Lynch and Brown’s second tally of the game at 9:26 was all Team USA would need as the two teams battled to a scoreless final period.

Team USA (18-17-2) goalie Brandon Maxwell rejected all but one of Alpena’s 36 attempts for his eighth win of the season.

The U.S. Nationals won their second straight outing while the defeat broke a seven-game win streak for Alpena.

Each team now stands 2-1 in the Showcase as Team USA avenged a 6-5 loss suffered at the hands of the Ice Diggers Friday night.

Also, division-leading St. Louis got back on the winning track with an 8-4 victory over Traverse City.

Kyle O’Kane’s hat trick and two goals by Ben Miller paced the Bandits (30-7-1) as they moved to 2-1 in the Showcase. The North Stars (11-17-8) remained winless in three outings.

The Phantoms will take on Traverse City at 5 p.m. today, while Alpena takes on St. Louis at 10:30 a.m. and Team USA plays Marquette at 1:30 p.m. at the Ice Zone.