Phantoms lose 9-1 to Nationals

It was Mahoning Valley’s third game in three days and just ran out of gas.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Playing their third game in three days and making a long trip north proved too much for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms.

The North Division leaders gave up a goal in the first minute of Sunday’s game against the U.S. National team and fell to the Under-17 team, 9-1, at the Ice Cube.

Jerry D’Amigo and Emerson Etem scored two goals apiece for the U.S. team, and A.J. Treais had three assists.

The Nationals led 3-0 after one period and were 3-for-6 on power plays.

Brad Smith scored the Phantoms’ only goal, with just under four minutes remaining in the game, on an assist by Brandon Saad.

The Phantoms (22-9-3) had allowed no more than five goals in any game this season. The U.S. team equaled that in the first two periods and surpassed it when Brendan Rempel’s powerplay goal with 11:46 remaining in the game made it 6-0.

D’Amigo, David Valek and Etem scored goals in the first period for the Nationals, the Etem scored again with 14:27 remaining in the second period and Drew Shore scored on a power play with 4:16 to go to make it 5-0.

The U.S. team also got third-period goals from Tyler Amburgey, D’Amigo and Kenny Ryan for a 9-0 lead before Smith’s tally averted the shutout for the Phantoms.

Mahoning Valley, which equaled the U.S. team with 37 shots on goal, was 0-for-2 on the power play, and was whistled for seven penalties totaling 24 minutes.

The Nationals (16-11-2) were whistled for just three penalties.

The Phantoms return to the Chevrolet Centre for games against Motor City Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. The Phantoms will also play at the U.S. National team Jan. 25 at 3 p.m.