Phantoms get home sweep of Bucs, 5-4

Brett Gensler had a goal and an assist to lead Youngstown.

By GREG GULAS

Vindicator correspondent

YOUNGSTOWN — It took the Youngstown Phantoms 33 days and four games to finally notch their first USHL home victory.

It took them just 24 hours to turn that victory into a two-game win streak.

Brett Gensler had a goal and assist while the Phantoms withstood a late Buccaneers rally to post a 5-4 victory over Des Moines on Friday at the Covelli Centre.

Gensler’s goal, his team-leading eighth of the season, came midway through the second period, staking the Phantoms to a 5-1 advantage.

“It was a weird goal in that we dumped the puck down in the zone, hoping to get a forecheck,” said Gensler. “Their goalie [Keegan Asmundson] played it and it shot off of my chest. I batted it down and it just floated into the net.

“I really didn’t think it had a chance to get between the pipes but sometimes it pays to be lucky, and that I was tonight on that shot,” he added.

After defeating Des Moines (4-7-0) on Thursday night, 4-3, the Phantoms (6-4-1) swept the series from the Buccaneers and have a four-game winning streak.

“It really feels good to have a win streak going but in order to keep that streak alive, we must show up every night and execute our game plan,” said Gensler.

“To me, it’s easier to play at home because the fans really keep us going. That was evident tonight.”

Brian Dowd’s power play goal just 1:29 into the contest gave Youngstown the early lead but Ryan Walters notched an unassisted goal at 2:18 of the period, his team best fifth of the season, the Buccaneers evened the score at 1.

Nick Czinder’s fourth goal of the year at 7:14 of the period helped the Phantoms regain the lead. Taylor Holstrom’s shot, unassisted, sailed past the outstretched arm of Asmundson at 15:10 to give Youngstown a 3-1 margin.

“We had a couple of unfortunate bounces and a couple mental lapses, but overall I thought we played much better,” said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt.

“Being a champion is truly a learning process and we are slowly getting there.

“Our success is our team offense and tonight Brett was Johnny on the spot. All five goals were the result of hard work by everyone,” added Mainhardt.

Adam Berkle’s goal just 39 seconds into the second period made it 4-1 with Gensler’s score at 8:37 giving Youngstown a four-goal advantage.

Taylor Wolfe (14:27) and Dan O’Donoghue (17:21) found the back of the net to cut the Youngstown margin to 5-3 with 20 minutes remaining.

H.T. Lenz’s fourth goal of the year, an unassisted tally at 9:49 of the final period, cut the Youngstown lead to 5-4, and Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett withstood a flurry at the end of the game to post his fourth win in seven tries.

The game’s telling statistic was the Phantoms’ power play where they cashed in on two of six opportunities.

Coming into the game the Buccaneers had allowed just seven power play goals in 10 contests.

The Buccaneers held a 50-30 shot advantage, outshooting the Phantoms 18-6 count in the third period.

Youngstown next will play East Division-leading Green Bay (6-3-2) in the first of a two-game set on Wednesday morning at the Covelli Centre.

Green Bay was a 5-1 winner on the road Friday over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.