Phantoms fall 3-2 in NAHL game

ST. LOUIS — Anthony Schooley’s power play goal with 16:43 remaining in the game broke a tie and gave the St. Louis Bandits a 3-2 victory over the Mahoning Valley Phantoms at the Summit Ice Arena on Friday night.

The loss was third in the last four games for the Phantoms (35-15-5) whose lead in the North American Hockey League’s North Division closed to three points over the U.S. National team.

St. Louis improved to 40-9-6, rallying from a 2-1 deficit and shutting out the Phantoms over the final 44:31 of the game.

Josh Bussell opened the scoring for the Phantoms with 13:37 remaining in the first period with his 19th goal of the season (and third as a Phantom) on assists by Michel Gunn and Brad Smith.

The Bandits tied the score a little over four minutes later, when Brendan Sheehan beat Mahoning Valley goaltender Jordan Tibbett on assists by Jordan Kirchhevel and Craig Kitto with 9:22 to go.

The Phantoms regained the lead with 4:31 remaining in the opening period on Nick Kenney’s goal, his 20th of the season. Cole Schneider got the assist.

But Mahoning Valley couldn’t get another goal past St. Louis netminder Keith Kinkaid, despite getting 23 shots over the final two periods.

Conor Allen scored with 8:42 left in the second period to tie the score, on an assist by daniel Olszewski.

The Phantoms’ Cullen Lundholm was whistled for holding with 18:15 remaining in the game, setting up Schooley’s game-winner on an assist by Sheehan with 16:43 to go.

The Phantoms held a 32-29 edge in shots but went 0-for-5 on the power play. St. Louis was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.

The teams play again tonight with faceoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. The Phantoms then close the regular season with games against Alpena next Thursday at the Chevrolet Centre and Friday at the Ice Zone.