Miles Winter registers game-winner for Phantoms
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN – The U.S. Nationals are a tough team to beat when entering the final period with the lead.
It was 21-1 overall heading into its weekend series with Mahoning Valley when leading after two periods of play.
Conversely, the Phantoms have struggled to a 2-12-3 mark when trailing after the first 40 minutes so when Team USA raced to a 2-1 lead with one period remaining, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Nationals would close out the game and keep the final score in their favor.
Mahoning Valley’s Miles Winter, however, had a different idea for an ending.
Winter’s goal with 12:50 remaining, his second of the game, proved to be the game winner as the Phantoms knocked off Team USA, 3-2 in North American Hockey League action at the Ice Zone.
“Our hats go off to Team USA because they battled the entire game. This was definitely a playoff atmosphere tonight,” Mahoning Valley coach Bob Mainhardt said.
“Miles [Winter] had one excellent game. He was dominant last year when we needed him to be and this year, once again, he is there for us at crunch time.
“This was a team effort and all 20 players are to be commended for their contribution. We won’t have much time to rest because we’ll be right back at it Saturday night,” Mainhardt added.
A.J. Treais’ goal at 13:21 of the opening period staked the Nationals to the early goal advantage, but when Winters’ wrister registered at 5:46 of the second stanza, his 24th goal of the season, it enabled the Phantoms to knot the game at 1-all.
“This is crunch time for both teams right now. Even though we have second-place in the division wrapped up we don’t want to become complacent. We want to end the season on a positive note and enter the playoffs with a little bit of momentum,” Winter stated.
When Grant Scott rippled a shot past Phantom goalie Jordan Tibbett at 16:00 for his first goal of the year, it helped Team USA forge a 2-1 lead heading to the final period of play.
It was one of just two flaws on Tibbett’s resume as he rejected 34 U.S National shots on the night.
“Team USA is a team that we could possibly see down the road in the playoffs so we cannot give them anything. It was good to be back in goal, but I must credit our defense with all of their help tonight,” Tibbett said.
“Our defense helped clear all of the rebounds so I saw everything the entire night. We need to play the same way tomorrow so we can send the message that we are ready for the play-offs,” he added.
Mahoning Valley’s Johnny Meo knotted the game at 2-all with his 16th tally of the season at 7:30 of the final period, clearing the way for Winter’s first game-winning goal of the year a little over five minutes later.
“To be honest, I don’t remember much about my first goal but the second one came on the power play, after we had worked the puck for a good minute or so. They [Team USA] backed off the puck, I took the pass from the point and the shot just registered. I think it had eyes,” Winter added.
As pleased as Mainhardt was with Winter, he was equally as impressed with Tibbett after a two-week lay-off.
“Jordan [Tibbett] was playing really well for us and it was unfortunate for his suspension a few weeks ago. That’s why we wanted to get him back into the lineup as soon as possible and he responded with a great game tonight,” Mainhardt noted.
Mahoning Valley (35-18-4, 74 points) held a 37-36 shot advantage while Team USA (28-25-4, 60 points), who will enter the playoffs as the fourth seed in the North Division and will face the league’s top team, the St. Louis Bandits, saw their modest two game win-streak fall by the wayside.
These same two teams will battle tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice Zone in the series and regular season finale for both clubs.