Lundholm, Chaney power Phantoms’ win

By John Kovach

Game 2 of the best-of-5 series will be played on Sunday.

YOUNGSTOWN — A balanced scoring attack and strong defensive play down the stretch enabled the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to open the North American Hockey League playoffs with a victory Friday night at the Chevrolet Centre.

Cullen Lundholm’s goal gave the Phantoms a 5-3 lead and eventually provided the margin of victory as the Phantoms held off the North Stars, 5-4, to take a 1-0 lead in the NAHL North Division semifinal playoff series.

Lundholm blasted a 15-footer into the net with 9:06 left in the game to expand the Phantoms’ advantage to 5-3 on assists from David Chaney and Jordy Trottier, who also had strong offensive games.

However, Eric McLintock of the North Stars found a wide-open Phantoms’ net when goalie Jordan Tibbett was out of position, and plugged in a 10-footer to lift the visitors to within 5-4 with about four minutes remaining.

But the Phantoms’ defense rose to the occasion to hold on for the win in the opener of a best-of-five series before an announced attendance of 1,850 fans. The Phantoms (37-17-5, 79 points), who are in their fifth straight playoff appearance, and North Stars (34-18-7, 75) will return to the Chevrolet Centre ice Sunday for a rematch at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5.

In addition to Lundholm, the Phantoms’ offense also was led by Chaney with one goal and three assists and Trottier with one goal and two assists.

Coach Bob Mainhardt of the Phantoms said that Lundholm “is very patient and waits for his opportunities, and when he gets wide open he can cash in the puck” like he did with his ninth goal of the season that made it 5-3. He now has 33 points.

Mainhardt also said that Chaney and Trottier know how to get into the scoring act.

Although Chaney had his sixth goal of the season and three assists for his five points, “this wasn’t his biggest game,” Mainhardt said. “He had a hat trick a couple of weeks ago. He can generate offense when he is into the game and working hard to get into position.”

Mainhardt said Trottier, who scored his 19th goal, is a “big-time player who knows how to step up.”

Trottier’s three points in the game gave him a team-leading 49 for the season ahead of Brandon Saad (47) and Stefan Salituro (47).

Mainhardt said his team “gave up some unfortunate goals” but that the defense saved the win near the end.

“The entire defensive unit played well,” he said.

The North Stars struck first and early in the game when Kyle Bonis connected from in close on assists from Nathan Urbaniak and Garrett Thompson with 13:58 left in the first period.

Bonis is the North Stars’ leading scorer this season, and his goal was of the 31st of the season and gave him 57 points.

But the Phantoms’ defense regrouped and held the North Stars scoreless the rest of the opening period.

And before the first period ended, with just 2.5 seconds left, Chaney connected on the equalizer for the Phantoms on assists from Nick Shkreli and Trottier to pull them in a 1-1 tie entering the second period.

It was Chaney’s sixth goal of the season and gave him 15 points.

Then the Phantoms took advantage of two straight power-play situations early in the second period to barge ahead.

First, Nick Kenney drilled a 10-foot goal untouched into the back of the net on an assist from Chaney for a 2-1 lead at 6:58.

Tibbett came through with 31 saves while North Stars’ goalie C.J. Motte had16. It was Tibbett’s 25th win against eight losses.

The North Stars outshot the Phantoms, 35-21.

kovach@vindy.com.