Are Phantoms Iowa-bound?

The U.S. National Team won Friday’s Game 4 to force a deciding contest tonight on their home ice at the Ice Cube Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms’ dream trip to Iowa for their fourth-straight appearance in the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup Finals has a detour to Michigan.

Friday at the Chevrolet Centre, the desperate U.S. National Team, defeated the Phantoms, 3-1, to even their best-of-5 North Division playoff series at 2-2 and force tonight’s Game 5.

“We have definitely made it tough on ourselves,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said after the Phantoms outshot the Nationals, 28-21, in Game 4. “But it’s what we’ve done all year.

“We haven’t done anything the easy way all year so we’re sticking to form,” Mainhardt said.

Game 5 will be played at the Nationals’ Ice Cube arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. The winner will earn the North Division’s berth in the weeklong tournament in Ames, Iowa.

The Phantoms’ loss follows Thursday’s 4-0 win that had them posed to end the series.

“Coming down here, we knew these were going to be two competitive games,” Nationals coach John Hynes said. “This has been a tight series with two very good teams. It’s gonna be a good show tomorrow.”

Michael Mersch scored the Nationals’ first two goals while goaltender Brandon Maxwell stopped 27 shots.

When they needed it most, the Phantoms’ scoring magic that produced 224 goals in 58 regular-season games eluded their sticks.

Stefan Salituro scored the Phantoms’ goal in the first period, with an assist from Cole Schneider.

“We played extremely poorly,” Mainhardt said. “I’m very disappointed with the effort in a Game 4 situation. With the chance to clinch a trip to the Robertson Cup Finals, we allowed them to come in and beat us in our own barn.”

About 13 minutes into the game, the Nationals took the lead right after skating off Mersch’s hooking penalty.

On a 2-on-1 break, Luke Moffatt skated the puck deep into the Phantoms’ zone then sent the puck back to the trailing Mersch. His shot eluded Phantoms goaltender Jordan Tibbett for a 1-0 lead.

“I got a great pass from Luke Moffatt,” Mersch said. “And Brandon played a good game — they peppered him.”

Four minutes later, Salituro’s third goal of the postseason tied the game. Salituro was looking to feed Schneider in the slot, but the puck bounced off Maxwell into the net.

Midway through the second period, Mersch’s second goal broke the 1-1 tie. Justin Faulk and Chase Balisy earned assists.

With about 90 seconds remaining and the Phantoms getting ready to lift Tibbett for an extra skater, the Nationals’ Austin Czarnik scored a fluke goal from behind the goal line.

Cznarik blindly sent the puck toward the goal crease and the puck bounced off Tibbett into the net for a 3-1 lead.

Tonight’s game will be the Phantoms and Nationals third in 51 hours. Mainhardt estimated that the Phantoms have played that three-in-a-row about eight times this season.

“We’re fairly used to it so we should be prepared,” Mainhardt said,

However, he said the Nationals have fresh troops awaiting them in Ann Arbor because they can substitute players from their 18-year-old roster that has finished its tournament.

The Phantoms’ bus will leave this morning at 11.

Should the Phantoms win tonight, they will continue on to Iowa to participate in Monday’s opening ceremonies.

“Hopefully, we’ll be away for a week,” Mainhardt said.

williams@vindy.com