Saad leads Phantoms past Motor City Machine, 5-3

By Greg Gulas

It was his first game back with Mahoning Valley after helping Team USA to a bronze medal at the Challenge.

YOUNGSTOWN – The Mahoning Valley Phantoms scored three goals in the second period in Friday’s 5-3 victory over the Motor City Machine in North American Hockey League action at the Chevrolet Centre.

Phantoms forward Brandon Saad added two tallies in his first game back since helping Team USA to the World Under-17 Challenge bronze medal.

Saad, who earned first-team all-tournament honors when he led all scorers in the preliminary round of the Challenge, said it was great to be back in familiar surroundings.

“It was as if everything just clicked right for me and my linemates, Doug Clifford and Brad Smith, tonight,” Saad said. “While it was a great experience to medal at the World Under-17 Challenge, it sure was good to be back with the team and be able to play a part in our victory.”

Saad, a native of Gibsonia, Pa., didn’t take long to dust off his scoring stick for he combined with both Smith and Clifford just 2:25 into the game for the early Phantoms advantage.

Kevin Bechard notched his seventh goal of the year for the Machine at 15:54 of the period.

A goal by the Phantoms’ Cole Schneider at 4:21 of the second period staked Mahoning Valley to a 2-1 lead. The Machine tied the game again when Ryan Misiak scored the first of his two goals.

Mahoning Valley took the lead for good on a power-play tally by Nick Kenney, his fifth of the season at 10:37.

Saad’s second goal gave the Phantoms a 4-2 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

“Brandon [Saad] is Brandon, what more can I say,” Phantoms head coach Bob Mainhardt said. “Our hottest line right now is [Nick] Kenney, [Jordy] Trottier and [Nick] Shkreli, but it was also encouraging to see other lines register on the scoreboard tonight as well.

“We had a good overall effort but a strong second period really got us going,” Mainhardt said. “[Garrett] Bartus was strong once again in goal as well.

“It’s tough to focus when you don’t see the rubber all the time, but Garrett played just like the veteran that he is,” Mainhardt said.

Misiak’s second goal cut the Phantoms lead to 4-3 but Kenney’s second goal, an empty netter with 29 seconds remaining, sealed Mahoning Valley’s victory.

“I thought we were the better team in the third period and we definitely had our chances,” Motor City head coach Sean Clark said. “We just couldn’t cash in.

“[Ryan] Misiak is a dynamic player for us; awfully skilled and someone who is willing to pay the price,” Clark said. “That is why he had so much success offensively tonight.”

Mahoning Valley outshot the Machine (6-24-1, 13 points), 40-19, including 16-4 in the final period of play.

Tthe Phantoms (21-8-3, 45 points) have opened up a four-point lead over the Traverse City North Stars (18-9-5, 41 points) in the North Division. The North Stars were a 4-1 loser Friday to the Marquette Rangers.