Phantoms top Alpena in 6-3 win at Ice Zone

Mahoning Valley opened up a three-point lead over the Ice Diggers.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms realize that every one of their remaining 11 regular season games are critical if they expect to finish second in the North American Hockey League’s North Division.

After their 6-3 victory over Alpena Friday at the Ice Zone, the team chasing them for that runner-up spot in the division, they’ve now created a three-point cushion between them and the Ice Diggers, hoping to add some more distance in the series finale tonight as both teams eye home ice advantage in the first-round of the playoffs.

“We had an excellent overall effort at both ends of the ice and that really pleased me,” said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt.

“Every game from here on out is important as we try to create some distance between us and the rest of the teams in the division. We need to be hitting on all cylinders these final 10 regular season games in order to do that.

“The prize for finishing runner-up in the division is home ice advantage, and every team realizes that. We’re a pretty good home team so that is definitely our goal the remainder of the way,” he added.

Eric Ringel’s two goals, and a goal and assist by Stefan Salituro helped the Phantoms break their three-game losing streak in which they were outscored, 14-4.

Ringel, who had just four goals in his previous 40 games, scored half as many against the Ice Diggers on a night when Mahoning Valley was desperate for an offensive spark.

“This is our biggest weekend of the season, no question about it. We’ve struggled the past three games offensively, so to come out and score six goals was a big relief,” Ringel said.

“Alpena is an excellent team that just keeps coming at you the entire game. They’ve always been tough on us so we better have that same intensity [tonight] if we expect to add to our lead in the division,” he added.

Then Phantoms got on the board first on Chad Boeckman’s a short-handed tally at 11:36 of the opening period.

That would be the only score of the period as Mahoning Valley held a 14-10 advantage in shots.

A flurry of goals by the Phantoms in the second period staked Mahoning Valley to a 5-0 lead with just 20 minutes remaining.

Salituro’s eighth goal of the year just 2:47 into the second stanza made it 2-0 in favor of Mahoning Valley, while unanswered goals by Kyle Verbeek (6:13), Ringel (15:41) and Brian McGinty (19:30) staked the Phantoms to the five-goal advantage.

Alpena’s Jon Puskar ruined Phantom goalie Garrett Bartus’ shutout with his score at 4:04 of the final period, but Ringel’s second goal of the game at 10:26 helped Mahoning Valley regain their five-goal lead and a 6-1 advantage.

Bryan Ross (16:59) and Ryan Sell (18:29) then added goals for Alpena, but it was too little, too late as they fell to 26-18-5 (57 points) and remained winless (0-3-2) in their last five outings.

The Phantoms, 28-16-4, improved to 15-6-1 at home and have won six of nine meetings this season between the two teams.

Alpena outshot the Phantoms, 40-38 but could cash in on only one of six power play opportunities.

Mahoning Valley was two of six when skating with the man advantage, but registered two short-handed goals.

The series finale is at 7:15 tonight at the Ice Zone.