Phantoms steal home edge with 4-1 win

Goaltender Jordan Tibbett made 47 saves in Mahoning Valley’s win over the U.S. National Team in Game 1 of the best-of-5 series.

STAFF REPORT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Despite surrendering 48 shots on goal, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms stole home-ice advantage away from the U.S. National Team with Thursday’s 4-1 victory.

Netminder Jordan Tibbett turned away 47 shots by the Nationals as the Phantoms captured Game 1 of the best-of-5 North American Hockey League’s North Division finals at the Ice Cube.

Two goals in the first 31‚Ñ2 minutes of the second period allowed the Phantoms to seize control of the game with a 3-0 lead.

Game 2 will be played tonight at 7 at the Ice Cube. Games 3 and 4 are scheduled at the Chevrolet Centre on April 23-24.

Twenty-two seconds into the second period, Phantoms defenseman Cullen Lundholm beat Nationals goaltender Brandon Maxwell for a 2-0 lead. Assisting were Stefan Salituro and Johnny Meo.

Three minutes later, Meo fed the puck to Josh Bussell who scored to give the Phantoms a three-goal advantage. Defenseman John Houston also assisted.

“Coming in and getting the first [game] is definitely big, especially on the road,” Meo said. “We’re a little banged up but we got the job done. Definitely a good start.”

With eight minutes remaining in the second period, the Nationals got on the scoreboard with a power-play goal. Justin Faulk beat Tibbett with a shot from the blue line. Emerson Etemset up the goal.

“Right off the bat they gave me some good tests,” Tibbett said. “That really got my head in the game quickly and I was able to focus right away.”

With about five minutes to play, Nationals coach John Hynes rolled the dice by pulling Maxwell. Within a minute, Salituro scored an empty-net goal to restore the three-goal margin.

With the game scoreless late in the first period, the game turned in the Phantoms’ favor after the Nationals’ Austin Czarnik earned four minutes in the penalty box for highsticking Phantoms forward Erik Higby and drawing blood.

With 23 seconds remaining in the power play, Alex Lippincott beat Maxwell for the game’s firs goal. Higby and defenseman Robert Harrison assisted.

In the opening frame, the Phantoms killed off three of Team USA’s three power-play chances. The Nationals were 1-for-5 on the power play while the Phantoms were 1-for-2.

The Phantoms took 30 shots.

The series winner will advance to the 2009 Robertson Cup Tournament that will be staged in Mason City, Iowa, from April 28 through May 3.

This is the second time the Phantoms and Nationals have met in the North Division finals. In 2007, Mahoning Valley swept Team USA, 3-0, to earn the division’s Robertson Cup berth.