Phantoms follow two wins with another lopsided loss

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the second time in three weekends the Mahoning Valley Phantoms followed up a Friday-Saturday sweep of the Motor City Machine with a Sunday blowout loss to the U.S. National team.

Jerry D’Amigo and Ryan Bourque scored two goals apiece to lead the Nationals to a 9-2 rout of the Phantoms at the Ice Cube.

Cole Schneider scored both goals for the Phantoms, the first coming with 12:48 remaining in the first period to give Mahoning Valley a 1-0 lead.

But by the time Schneider found the back of the net again, with 8:34 left in the game, the Nationals had scored six unanswered goals, all in the second period.

Cullen Lundholm, Carl Nielson and Doug Clifford had assists on Schneider’s goals.

The U.S. team scored the final three goals of the game and outshot the Phantoms, 44-36.

Jordan Tibbet played the first two periods and absorbed the loss in goal for the Phantoms. Garrett Bartus played the final 20 minutes.

On Jan. 9-10, the Phantoms beat Motor City 5-3 and 6-3 at the Chevrolet Centre before losing 9-1 to the Nationals on Jan. 11.

The Phantoms defeated the Machine 4-3 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre.

The Phantoms return to action Friday and Saturday for games against the Alpena Ice Diggers in Alpena, Mich., with both games scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

The Phantoms’ next home games are Feb. 6-8 against the Traverse City North Stars at the Ice Zone.