Phantoms on the road for two

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms make their final journey to face West Division opponents in a pair of United States Hockey League games tonight and Saturday.

The trip begins tonight in Omaha with the fourth and final game against the West-leading Lancers, who have gone 3-0 against the Phantoms this season, including a 6-1 win at the Omaha Civic Auditorium on Feb. 14.

On Saturday night the Phantoms play Sioux City for the last time this season.

The Phantoms (17-33-3, 37 points) have played six consecutive games decided by two or fewer goals, collecting five out of a possible 12 points while going 2-3-1, their best stretch in weeks.

Veteran forward Tom Serratore has led the way offensively during that time, posting two goals and six assists.

The Lancers (36-12-6, 78 points) are coming off an extended eight-game road swing. Omaha went 6-0-2 on the trip and is unbeaten in its last 10 games, but the Lancers only earned one point Wednesday in their return home, a 5-4 shootout loss to Fargo.

Ryan Daugherty scored two goals for Omaha.

The Lancers enter the weekend as probably the hottest team in the USHL, earning 17 out of a possible 20 points during its 7-0-3 streak.

The Lancers’ last loss was against Chicago on Feb. 13.

Omaha outscored opponents 17-3 in the first four games of its run, but has been forced to a shootout in five of its last six, going 2-3.

Omaha’s Matt White is still in contention for the USHL scoring title, as his 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) place him behind only Tri-City’s Jaden Schwartz (78 points).

White also has an outside chance of claiming the league goal-scoring crown; only Anders Lee of the Green Bay Gamblers (33) has scored more goals than White.