Phantoms manage to hold off Machine for 4-3 victory

By John Kovach

YOUNGSTOWN — Was it that the Mahoning Valley Phantoms didn’t play like a first-place team Friday night at the Chevrolet Centre?

Or was it that the Motor City Machine didn’t play like a last-place team?

It was a little bit of both as the Phantoms managed to hold off the Machine in the waning minutes to escape with a 4-3 win, in a North American Hockey League North Division game before an announced attendance of 1,500 fans.

Jordy Trottier’s goal with 11:11 left assisted by Nick Kenney and Nick Schkreli was Mahoning Valley’s game-winner. Trottier’s goal snapped a 3-3 tie.

The Phantoms’ defense and goalie Jordan Tibbett then rose to the occasion to repel the Machine down the stretch.

Coach Bob Mainhardt of the Phantoms said Motor City’s record belies its talent.

“Our division is tricky,” Mainhardt said. “The last-place team is not what it appears. The teams are balanced in our division.

“The teams are tough and among the best in the league,” said Mainhardt, who credited the Phantoms’ defense for saving the game down the wire.

“Johnny Houston played great [defense] for us in the clutch,” Mainhardt said. “He is a veteran. He was with us last year.”

It was Trottier’s 12th goal of the season and the Phantoms’ eighth win over the Machine in nine meetings. The victory enabled the Phantoms (23-9-3, 49 points) to retain their two-point hold on first place in the North Division.

Trottier also had an assist to give him 17 for the year. He has a team-leading 29 points.

Mahoning Valley also won its sixth straight home game to tie for first place in that category.

The Phantoms and Motor City (6-28-1, 13 points) will return tonight for a rematch at 7:15.

“[David] Chaney and [Kyle] Van were very good [on defense],” Mainhardt said.

Tibbett turned back 21 shots and especially was effective at crunch time when the desperate Machine put on the pressure. He boosted his record to 16-4.

Trottier said he was able to score the game-winner with help from two of his teammates, and by doing what he has been taught — follow up your shots.

“I scored on a rebound,” Trottier said. “[Nick] Schkreli and [Nick] Kenney worked the puck down low [toward the net]. I took the first shot on goal but the goalie blocked it.

“Then I followed up [to score],” Trottier said. “That paid off. I worked the puck to the net. You are taught at an early age to follow your shots. It makes a difference.”

The Machine broke the scoreless deadlock just after the second period began when Ryan Misiak scored on a penalty shot.

About a minute later, the Phantoms capitalized on the Machine being one player short and tallied the first of two, quick back-to-back power-play goals to take a 2-1 lead.

First, Cole Schneider scored on assists from Cullen Lundholm and Stefan Salituro to even it at 1-1. It was Schneider’s 11th goal of the year and boosted his points total to 20.

Kenney followed with another goal with assists from Erik Higby and Trottier to give the Phantoms a 2-1 lead. It was Kenney’s seventh goal of the season and gave him 14 points.

But that lead was short-lived as Andrew Tate of the Machine scored on assists from Trevor John and Nate Taurence to pull the Mchine even at 2-2.

The Phantoms retaliated late in the period when George Saad connected with an assist from Salituro for a 3-2 advantage.

The Machine battled back and tied it at 3-3 with 13:16 remaining on Cody Holzworth’s goal assisted by Bennett Schneider and Adam Sponseller.

The Phantoms took 30 shots to the Machine’s 24. Machine goalie Joe Moore made 26 saves.

kovach@vindy.com