Phantoms happy to bid January adieu

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Eager to put a trying January behind them, the Youngstown Phantoms take the ice today for their only morning start of the season.

Billed as Hockey for Health School Day, the Phantoms will take on the defending USHL champion Indiana Ice at 10 a.m. at the Covelli Centre.

In their most recent meeting, the Phantoms defeated the Ice, 5-2, in Indianapolis. In that game, Phantoms forward Taylor Holstrom picked up two assists, Cody Strang nailed the game winner late in the second period and goalie Jordan Tibbett earned the win in his hometown.

The Phantoms (14-21-2, 30 points) are becoming desperate for points in the standings as they sit in sixth place in the East Division.

Last weekend, the Phantoms opened a five-game homestand by losing twice to the Sioux Falls Stampede. The Phantoms were outscored 16-4 in the process.

Holstrom, Ryan Jasinsky and defenseman Scott Mayfield scored goals in Sunday’s 8-3 loss. Mayfield posted the Phantoms’ only plus rating on the day (plus one).

His plus-two rating for the season leads all Youngstown blueliners, and his 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) place him second to Dave Donnellan among rearguards.

In Sunday’s loss, the Stampede scored three times in a 52-second span, the quickest three against Youngstown this season.

After posting a 2-1-0 record last weekend, the Ice (21-15-2, 44 points) are in third place in the East Division. The top four teams will qualify for the postseason.

Indiana has rebounded nicely from a four-game losing streak from Jan. 15-23. Antti Roppo, Indiana’s leading sniper with 19 goals, has snapped home four in the past three games, which included a two-game home sweep of the fifth-place Chicago Steel.

Now holding a nine-point lead over Chicago, last year’s champs are in good position for a return trip to the Clark Cup Playoffs.

In January, the Phantoms went 1-9-0 and were outscored 47-23. They have 12 games in February to climb back into playoff contention.

Youngstown stands six points out of fourth place that is occupied by the Waterloo Black Hawks, this weekend’s opponent at the Covelli Centre.