Phantoms’ power-play fizzles in loss to Dubuque Fighting Saints

Staff report

DUBUQUE, Iowa

Power-play woes led to Friday’s Youngstown Phantoms’ 4-1 loss to the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

The Phantoms (9-13-1, 19 points) were only able to muster one goal on eight power-play opportunities as the Fighting Saints (16-4-2, 34 points) won their fifth game in a row.

The Phantoms’ goal was scored by former Fighting Saint Andrew Sinelli.

Late in the first period, John DiGiando beat Matthew O’Connor for a 1-0 Saints’ lead.

Emotions started to run high during the second period. The Phantoms dominated the majority of the period, outshooting the Fighting Saints 12-4 but a late power play goal by John Gaudreau gave Dubuque a 2-0 lead.

“That’s the way hockey is played,” Phantoms coach Coach Curtis Carr said. “Both teams were battling hard and the emotions were high, it’s just unfortunate that we could not feed off that energy.”

In the third period, Sinelli’s third goal of the season sliced the Saints’ lead to 2-1.

But Dubuque rebounded with Shane Sooth’s power-play goal for a two-goal advantage. DiGando’s second goal wrapped up the scoring.

The Phantoms outshot the Fighting Saints, 30-23.

“We are not scoring five on five,” Carr said. “Guys are squeezing their sticks when we are even strength and they were squeezing them on the power play as well. We had our opportunities we just need to bury our chances and relax a little.”

The Phantoms will be in Muskegon, Mich., tonight to face the Lumberjacks for the second time this season. The Phantoms defeated Muskegon, 3-2, on Nov. 28.

“We need to continue to stay positive,” Carr said. “We need to realize that if we continue to get opportunities they will fall for us. We need to avoid getting frustrated and stay with our game plan and eventually breaks will come our way.”