Phantoms fall to Green Bay, 2-1, on Sunday

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Defenseman David Makowski’s tiebreaking goal early in the third period was the difference on Sunday, as the Green Bay Gamblers squeaked by the Youngstown Phantoms, 2-1, at the Resch Center.

Makowski’s wrister from the right point found just enough space between Youngstown goaltender Jordan Tibbett’s left arm and the right post at 3:11 of the final frame.

Makowski leads all USHL blueliners with 11 goals.

Tibbett, getting his fifth start in the Phantoms’ last six games and enjoying a stretch of strong play, stopped 36 Green Bay shots.

Green Bay goalie Ryan McKay held firm in the final minute, stopping Luke Eibler and Tom Serratore with less than 15 seconds to play to preserve the victory. McKay made 23 saves to earn his fifth win overall and second against the Phantoms this season.

The first-place Gamblers (21-6-3, 45 points) swept the two-game weekend series with Youngstown (13-14-2, 28 points) and lead the season series 3-1 with one matchup left, on Feb. 28 in Green Bay. The Phantoms have dropped three straight, all on the road, and are below the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 30. They return to the Covelli Centre on Friday and Saturday for games against the Fargo Force.

After surrendering the final four goals of the game in Saturday night’s 7-2 loss, the Phantoms came back to construct a competitive first period on Sunday but they still faced a deficit through 20 minutes. Patrick McCadden’s centering pass from the bottom of the right circle found Robert Francis at the top of the crease, who converted for a 1-0 Green Bay advantage at 9:03.

Youngstown got into severe penalty trouble to start the second, as they took four straight minors in the opening 11:40, but the Phantoms were able to kill all four ensuing Green Bay power plays. One day after scoring three goals with the man advantage, the Gamblers went 0-for-8 on Sunday.

The Phantoms’ success on the penalty kill loomed large when they tied the game on a power play of their own late in the middle stanza. Good puck movement gave Eibler a great look at the net from 25 feet away, but he elected to pass to a wide open Taylor Holstrom at the left post. Holstrom tapped in the setup for his eighth goal of the season at 15:31, and the teams skated into what would be a decisive third period.

Both games this weekend begin at 7:15 p.m.