Phantoms are ‘Super’ in 4-1 win

By John Kovach

Nick Eason of the Pittsburgh Steelers helped Alex Lippincott and Jordan Tibbett lead Mahoning Valley.

BOARDMAN — You had a hunch that it was going to be a winning night for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms at the Ice Zone Friday.

After all, the ceremonial first puck was dropped by defensive end Nick Eason of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who was a guest at The Vindicator during the afternoon and also later at the Phantoms’ game against the Traverse City North Stars in a North American Hockey League North Division matchup.

After that initial launch by Eason, and then his ensuing support as he mingled through the crowd chatting with Phantoms’ and Steelers’ fans, the Mahoning Valley team took over and proceeded to dominate Traverse City, 4-1, behind forward Alex Lippincott’s two goals and goalie Jordan Tibbett’s 25 saves.

The win expanded Mahoning Valley’s first-place lead over the North Stars to four games entering tonight’s rematch between the two rivals at the Ice Zone at 7:15.

Lippincott scored the Phantoms’ first goal early in the opening period and added his second goal with just seconds left in the game, while George Saad and Stefan Salituro added the other goals in between to spark the Phantoms (27-10-3, 57 points).

Kyle Jean got the lone goal for Traverse City (24-10-5, 53 points) early in the second quarter to prevent a shutout by Tibbett (18-5-1).

Lippincott, 16, of Akron, a junior at Walsh Jesuit High in his first season with the Phantoms, enjoyed his second two-goal game with the team, getting his first one last Friday in a win over the Alpena IceDiggers.

He said he got a lot of help from teammates Doug Clifford and Josh Bussell Friday, and has been getting the opportunity to shoot more.

“I played well with my linemates Clifford and Bussell. We worked well together. They worked the puck to the net so I could get some good shots,” said Lippincott, whose first goal at 17:14 of the first period came on assists from Salituro and Lundholm.

“On my first goal, I took a pass from Salituro. On my second goal [with just 29.4 seconds left], it was an empty-netter and Bussell got the assist. He made a good play and pass to take out the defensive player.”

Tibbett lauded his defenders swarming in front of the net for helping him fend off and reduce shots coming at him.

“Our defenders really played them close,” said Tibbett and “covered their men well.”

He said that the team ”has been committed to defense lately,” but that he also “was seeing the puck really well.”

Saad’s goal at 12:50 of the first period on assists from Brad Smith and Erik Higby gave Mahoning Valley a 2-0 lead.

But Jean struck for Traverse City with an unassisted goal at 19:03 of the second period to cut the Phantoms’ lead to 2-1. It was Jean’s sixth goal in eight games against the Phantoms.

However, later in the second period, in a battle for the puck in front of the North Stars’ net, Lundholm hit the puck onto goalie CJ Motte’s shoulder and he couldn’t control it and it rolled off and fell on the ice. Salituro spotted it and tapped it in for a goal to lift Mahoning Valley’s lead to 3-1 at 7:19.

Lundholm and Carl Nielsen were credited with assists on the play.

The Phantoms enjoyed a 41-26 advantage in shots on goal, while Motte came up with 37 saves for the North Stars.

kovach@vindy.com