Third-period collapse robs Phantoms of win

By Tom Williams

The Motor City Machine outscored the Phantoms 3-2 at the Chevrolet Centre.

YOUNGSTOWN — On the eve on the biggest night in Chevrolet Centre history, goals were as precious as $50 tickets for the Kelly Pavlik-Marco Antonio Rubio middleweight title fight.

Nursing a 2-1 lead late in Friday’s North American Hockey League game, penalties proved quite costly to the first-place Mahoning Valley Phantoms (31-11-5, 67 points).

A heavy favorite against sixth-place Motor City Machine, the Phantoms saw their lead evaporate late in the third period when Jon Bobb’s close-in shot during a two-man advantage tied the game at 2-2.

Bobb’s goal forced a scoreless overtime and a shootout that the Machine won (3-1) for a 3-2 victory. Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt pulled few punches after the disappointing finish to the team’s Pavlik Rally Night.

“They played very well,” said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt of the Machine (9-35-1, 19 points). “We didn’t execute our gameplan and I was expecting a much better effort with the nice crowd we had tonight.

“I expected a lot more energy from our guys, but we didn’t show up for 60 minutes,” Mainhardt said.

In the shootout, Ryan Misiak, Jared Williams and Jake Friedman beat Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett while Machine goalie Joe Moore stopped Jordy Trottier, Brad Smith and Erik Higby.

Tibbett made 41 saves before the shootout.

“He was the only bright spot,” Mainhardt said. “Jordan kept giving us the opportunity to win the game and was able to steal a point that we didn’t deserve. He played great for us.”

Machine coach Sean Clark said his team has improved.

“That’s three of the last five that we’ve won,” Clark said. “We starting to find ways to win games.”

With the game tied 1-1 after two periods, Phantoms forward Alex Lippincott took advantage of a fortunate bounce off the boards from behind the net. The puck caromed to Lippincott who was skating near the Machine net and he tapped it past Moore for an unassisted goal to break the tie about five minutes into the third period.

But with 5:12 to go near the end of a power play, the Phantoms were assessed two minor penalties (Brandon Saad for elbowing, Robert Harrison for instigating a fight) that gave the Machine renewed life.

Thirty-five seconds into the two-man advantage, the game was tied.

About 50 minutes before the game, Pavlik made a brief appearance at center ice for his hydration weigh-in. With about 600 fans looking on, Pavlik was driven around the rink in a Pontiac G6.

He exited the car at center ice and climbed a short platform adorned by a set of scales. Pavlik, who weighed 159 pounds at the official weigh-in about seven hours earlier, tipped the scales at 176 pounds.

During the intermissions, two autographed Pavlik Phantoms jerseys were auctioned, netting a combined $1,300.

The Machine dominated play early, taking a 1-0 lead about eight minutes into the game when Ali Dakroub tipped Nate Taurence’s blue-line shot past Tibbett. Alec Thieda also earned an assist.

Six minutes later, the Phantoms tied the game when Saad slapped a rebound past a sprawled Moore, who stopped Saad’s first shot.

“Joe has been very consistent for us,” said Clark of Moore’s eighth game. “He stopped all the easy ones and that’s all we can ask from him every night.”

Late in the period, each time had one power-play opportunity but mustered no shots. Instead the shorthanded teams had chances.

“Hopefully this will burn for a little bit and this will give them time to reollect on this game,” Mainhardt said. “Hopefully, we’ll come out on Tuesday with a different misdemeanor.”

williams@vindy.com