Nationals wallop Phantoms, 9-3

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Defenseman Adam Clendening netted a pair of goals and former Mahoning Valley Phantom Brandon Saad rung up three assists Saturday to lead the U.S. National Team over the Youngstown Phantoms, 9-3, at the Ice Cube.

Austin Czarnik and Jacob Fallon each had a goal and an assist as Team USA dealt the Phantoms their widest margin of defeat on the season.

Phantom Jefferson Dahl scored a goal in his team-high third straight game and Luke Eibler earned a pair of assists.

Saad helped get Team USA off to a good start, finding Jacob Fallon for a power-play goal only 1:23 into the contest. Fallon found room between Phantoms starting goalie Jordan Tibbett and the right post to sneak puck into the net.

A quick two-goal burst by Team USA midway through the first frame added to the Phantoms’ troubles. Defenseman Stephen Johns (11:32) and Bill Arnold (11:55) nailed their first and third of the season, respectively, to make it 3-0.

A slam-dunk set-up from Austin Czarnik to Nick Shore pushed the lead to four goals before the first intermission and caused Phantoms Coach Bob Mainhardt to insert Matt Mahalak in net, the first relief appearance by a Youngstown netminder this season.

Mahalak caught a tough break at 2:30 of the second when Czarnik’s centering pass from behind the net struck a Phantoms defender and bounced in for Team USA’s fifth goal. The fluky play marked the first time all season that Youngstown trailed by five.

Dahl saved some face for the visitors when he converted the rebound from former high school teammate Dave Donnellan’s power-play drive 5:49 into the middle stanza. It was Dahl’s ninth of the campaign, tying him briefly with Brett Gensler and Nick Czinder for the team lead, as well as his third in three games; Jiri Sekac earned the primary assist, his first USHL point.

Tom Serratore and Gensler added goals for Youngstown in the third, both assisted by defenseman Eibler.