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Phantoms win in shootout, 6-5, over Team USA to gain top spot
Gallery
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A late flurry of goals from Team USA may have shaken the Mahoning Valley Phantoms, but it was the Phantoms who got the last laugh, winning 6-5 in Saturday’s shootout for their fourth straight win.
The win pushed the Phantoms (13-4-2, 28 points) into a first place tie with the Traverse City North Stars (13-3-2, 28) atop the North American Hockey League’s North Division, with a matchup between the two first place squads looming on Friday at the Chevrolet Centre.
The Phantoms led 5-3 with 1:39 remaining but a last-minute two goal outburst by the Nationals forced overtime.
Phantoms forward Brandon Saad notched the only goal in the decisive shootout.
Phantoms coach and General Manager Bob Mainhardt said his team gained valuable experience by withstanding the Nationals’ rally.
“We definitely learned from it,” Mainhardt said, “and these are valuable lessons to learn. And that’s what this level is all about, players learning from their mistakes and becoming better. We did that tonight.”
Saad’s shootout winner was his third goal of the night as he netted two regulation markers—both on the power play—that gave Mahoning Valley a brief 4-0 lead in the second period.
Jordan Tibbett (10-2-0) made 34 saves.