Tibbett lifts MV past US
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are headed to their fourth straight Robertson Cup following a 2-1 win over the U.S. National Team in the decisive Game Five of the North Division Finals Saturday.
Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett made 50 saves as Mahoning Valley clinched their second North Division title, winning the best-of-five series three games to two.
“I can’t say enough about Jordan,” said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt, “He was definitely the difference tonight.
“He was outstanding for us after some unlucky bounces [Friday]. There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to be ready for [Saturday] and he exceeded all of my expectations.”
The Phantoms will open the Robertson Cup Tournament with a 4 p.m. matchup on Tuesday against the winner of the Central Division.
The Central Division Finals will play its decisive Game Five today after the Owatonna Express evened their series with the top-seeded Bismarck Bobcats with a 2-1 win Saturday.
Joining the Phantoms and the winner of the Bismarck-Owatonna series in Mason City will be the South Division champion Bandits, the West Division champion Wenatchee Wild and the host North Iowa Outlaws.
The Phantoms and Nationals battled through a scoreless first period and the game remained knotted until Erik Higby scored in transition for a 1-0 Phantoms lead with 7:11 left in the second period.
With the Phantoms still leading 1-0 with just over two minutes left, Team USA Head Coach John Hynes lifted goalie Brandon Maxwell for an extra attacker. As the clock passed 2:00, Cole Schneider pulled the puck out of the MahoningValley zone and, while falling down, fired a 125-foot shot into the empty net for a 2-0 Phantoms lead with 1:51 remaining.