Phantoms can’t pull out win in Michigan

Mahoning Valley goalie Garrett Bartus finished with 15 saves on 18 shots in the 3-2 loss.

WYANDOTTE, Mich. — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms found themselves facing another third period deficit in a series finale, and this time they were unable to close the gap as they fell to the Motor City Machine 3-2 Saturday.

The Phantoms entered the third down 3-1, but dominated play through the entire final frame, out-shooting Motor City 12-3 in the period. Stefan Salituro’s second goal of the night at the 10:53 mark cut the lead to 3-2 but the Phantoms were not able to find the equalizer in the last 10 minutes.

The win snapped a 13-game losing streak for the Machine, who had been winless since Sept. 20.

Salituro’s first goal came when he stuffed the puck between the legs of Motor City goalie Joe Rodgers with 6:25 left in the first period. That tally cut the Machine lead to 2-1 at the time.

The Machine built an early 2-0 lead on first period goals from Jared Williams and Nick Taurence.

In the second period, Josh Bussell — acquired by the Machine earlier in the week via trade — scored his sixth goal of the season, beating Phantoms netminder Garrett Bartus stick-side with a snap shot in transition.

Bartus (3-2-2) finished with 15 saves on 18 shots for the Phantoms in the loss. Rodgers (2-5-0) turned aside 24 of 26 Phantoms shots for the victorious Machine.

Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill, each negating six opposition power plays on the night.

The weekend split vaults the Phantoms (9-4-2, 20 pts) into second place in the North Division over idle Team USA (9-6-1, 19 pts). Traverse City, also idle, remains atop the division at 13-4-0 (26 pts).