Phantoms turn drought into rout

Offensive patience paid off for Mahoning Valley, a 4-1 winner in Michigan.

WYANDOTTE, Mich. — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms’ offense hit its groove late in the second period Friday, scoring four goals in 10 minutes to collect a 4-1 win over the reeling Motor City Machine.

Scoreless through the first 37-plus minutes of the game, the Phantoms broke free for a pair of goals in the last 2:07 of the second period to carry a 2-0 lead into the third period.

First, George Saad got his second goal in as many games, slapping home a rebound amid a scrum in front of Motor City netminder Zach Hansen 17:53 into the second.

John Houston followed 20 seconds later, lining a wrist shot under Hansen’s glove with 1:47 left.

Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said the offense’s patience eventually paid off in the second.

“The most important thing is that we stuck to the offensive game plan,” Mainhardt said. “We were getting our opportunities and sometimes guys get frustrated, but we stayed patient. We changed a couple things and the goals came.”

Nick Taurence briefly pulled the Machine back into the game just 1:12 into the third, snapping one past Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett for his third of the year.

Two and a half minutes later, Alex Lippincott bounced a goal line shot in off Hansen to reinstate the Phantoms’ two-goal lead.

Lippincott then assisted on Johnny Meo’s second of the year, a point-blank shot that rolled over Hansen’s glove for the final margin of 4-1.

Tibbett improved to 6-2-0 on the season, shutting down 16 of Motor City’s 17 shots in the win. Tibbett improved his goals against average to 1.74 on the season, putting him in third place league-wide in that category.

The Phantoms’ two-game series with the Machine draws to a close tonight at B.F. Yack Arena, with the opening faceoff scheduled for 7:10 p.m.