Off to a (n)ice start

By John Kovach

North American hockey league

After beating U.S. National team, the Phantoms are 3-0 at the Centre

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are finding their new home rink is reaping dividends for them in a variety of ways.

Not only are the Phantoms winning games and climbing in the North American Hockey League standings, but they also are winning fans and support from the Youngstown area.

Replacing the Youngstown SteelHounds this season, the Phantoms remained undefeated at the Chevrolet Center through three games by shutting out the U.S. National team, 3-0, Friday night behind a balanced offensive attack and potent defensive effort before an announced attendance of 1,685 fans.

It was the Phantoms’ first shutout this season thanks to superb goaltending by Jordan Tibbett and determined defensive work by all seven defenders — all refusing to allow any pucks to enter the net and turning back numerous shots, especially in the final period.

It was Tibbett’s first shutout with the Phantoms and his first shutout in three years.

The Phantoms, who disposed of the St. Louis Bandits twice last week at the Chevrolet Centre, got off to another strong offensive start thanks to Doug Clifford and Cole Schneider, who each scored a goal from close range in the opening period to stake the home team to a 2-0 lead.

Then after a scoreless deadlock in the second period when the Nationals stepped up their defense and the Phantoms were outshot, 5-4, the locals charged back and got another goal from Nick Shkreli in the third period to take a 3-0 advantage.

Then Tibbett and his defenders rose to the occasion in the last period to turn back relentless offensive attacks from the Nationals, who failed to connect on 15 shots over the final span.

The Phantoms (12-4-3, 25 points), in second place in the North Division of the NAHL, climbed to within three points of leader Traverse City (13-2-2, 28 points), which didn’t play tonight. The U.S, National team (10-7-1, 21 points) is in third place.

The Phantoms and Nationals will play again tonight in Ann Arbor, Mich., at 7 p.m.

Tibbett credited his entire defense.

“The defense got in great positions [in front of the net]. There was a lot of backup help on defense,” he said, meaning that if the first line of defense failed, the second didn’t and stopped a lot of shots before they got to him. “It was more than just me.”

Tibbet came up with 23 saves, including 13 in the final period.

Nationals goalie Jack Campbell had 25 saves.

Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt lauded Tibbett’s goaltending and the staunch performance by defenders Trevor Shively, David Chaney, Carl Nielsen, Cullen Lundholm, Kyle Van, Trevor Shively and John Houston.

“Tibbett didn’t get a lot of shots early but he managed to stay focused the whole game to turn back the Nationals’ relentless attack in the third period,” said Mainhardt. “All seven defenders played well tonight,”

He especially was pleased with the defense because it played better than expected without defensive ace Robert Harrison, who is out with a broken leg.

The Phantoms scored first at 9:29 of the first period on Clifford’s goal from just in front of the net on assists from Chaney and Nick Kenney.

Then the locals struck again in the first period from just in front of the net on Schneider’s goal at 5:42 on assists from George Saad and Lundholm.

Mahoning Valley enjoyed a 15-3 shot advantage in the first period.

But the Nationals stepped up their defense in the second period and prevented the Phantoms from scoring, although the Phantoms’ defense also excelled to force a 0-0 draw and maintain a 2-0 lead entering the final period.

There, the locals took a 3-0 lead on Shkreli’s driving goal from in close with 11:11 left on assists from Kyle Verbeek and Nielsen to conclude their scoring, while Tibbett and the defense braced to keep the net clean of pucks despite a barrage of shots.

The Nationals had a 15-9 shots advantage in the finale, while the Phantoms had a 28-23 margin for the game.

kovach@vindy.com