Phantoms dismantle Machine

WYANDOTTE, Mich. — Nursing a 2-1 lead in the second period, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms erupted for five straight goals on their way to a 8-4 clobbering of the last-place Motor City Machine.

Nick Kenney poured in his second hat trick of the year and adding an assist for a four-point night as the Phantoms tallied their second-highest offensive output of the season.

“Our line of me, Jordy Trottier and Nick Shkreli started clicking again really well,” said Kenney, who also scored a hat trick on Feb. 8. “We had a little trouble there for a while, but we got it back [on Friday] for sure.”

Shkreli and Trottier each added a goal and three assists to match their linemate’s four-point night.

Shkreli opened the scoring 6:01 into the game, redirecting a Trottier feed on the power play past Motor City goalie Joe Moore for his 10th goal of the year and a 1-0 lead.

Trottier tallied his 16th score of the year when he got a wide-open power play rebound off a Kenney shot and buried it past Moore for a 2-0 lead just 2:07 into the second.

The Phantoms finished 5-for-7 on the power play while the Machine went 3-for-6 with the man advantage.

Garrett Bartus picked up his tenth win of the season, making 21 saves on 25 shots for the victory.