Phantoms pursue elusive road win

By Tom Williams

The team has not won a road game since before Christmas.

YOUNGSTOWN — Coming off their first win of 2010, the Youngstown Phantoms are on the road this weekend seeking their first victory away from the Covelli Centre since before Christmas.

Tonight at 8:05, the Phantoms (14-17-2, 30 points) will take the ice in Waterloo, Iowa, to play the host Black Hawks (15-16-2, 32 points).

The Phantoms ended a six-game losing streak on Monday with a 7-3 victory over Team USA. That victory kept the sixth-place Phantoms two points behind the fourth-place Black Hawks and one behind fifth place Chicago.

The top four teams in each USHL Division qualify for the playoffs.

The Phantoms are making their first appearance in Waterloo. On Dec. 29, the Phantoms defeated the Black Hawks, 4-3, at the Covelli Centre. That was their last win before dropping six straight games (three on the road, then three at home).

Forward Jefferson Dahl, the Phantoms’ second-leading scorer with 25 points, scored two goals and assisted on another in that game against Waterloo.

The Black Hawks have reversed their fortunes since losing to the Phantoms, going 6-1-1 to take control of the final East playoff spot.

Forward Tyler Barnes is a player the Phantoms need to contain as he scored two goals and two assists in the Hawks’ 5-3 home win last Saturday against Tri-City.

Forward Soren Jonzzon picked up two points, including his first game-winning goal on the power play early in the final frame.

Saturday at 8:05 p.m., the Phantoms’ Iowa road trip continues with a game in Cedar Rapids against the Rough Riders (19-15-2, 40 points). The Rough Riders are in second place in the East Division, 13 points behind Green Bay and one ahead of Indiana.

In Monday’s victory over Team USA, Phantoms forward Cody Strang recorded the expansion franchise’s first three-goal game. Strang scored a “natural” hat trick (three consecutive goals) over the span of 4:55 at the end of the second period.

Forward Taylor Holstrom, the Phantoms’ top scorer with 27 points, chipped in a goal and three assists for the Phantoms’ first four-point game.

Holstrom and forward Nick Czinder will represent the Phantoms at the USHL All-Star Game on Jan. 26 in Indianapolis.

Twelve offensive records were set or matched in Monday’s win, with new highs reached in goals in a single period (five in the second) power-play goals in a game and single period (three, all in the second), shots in a game and period (44 total, 23 in the second), and margin of victory.

Forward Adam Berkle’s goal midway through the second ended the Phantoms’ 0-for-20 power play drought that began on Jan. 3 in Green Bay.

The Phantoms’ next home games will be Jan. 29 and Jan. 31 against Sioux Falls.

williams@vindy.com