Sunday, March 28, 2010
By jon moffett
jmoffett@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Two nights, two games and two completely different outcomes.
The Youngstown Phantoms’ second game against Team USA in as many days ended with a much different result than the first.
The Phantoms fell behind early and were never able to recover in a 6-2 loss to the 17-and-under national team Saturday at the Covelli Centre. Friday, the Phantoms defeated Team USA 3-2 in Ann Arbor Friday.
“For the most part, I was happy with our effort until about the 12-minute mark of the third period,” Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said. “I think we took some undisciplined shots, which we didn’t do [Friday] and that hurt us in times of momentum.”
Any momentum the Phantoms (18-35-4) had seemed to come at the wrong times.
Team USA (25-29-4) came when the Phantoms were on a power play. Team USA forward Blake Pitella was called for tripping and earned the game’s first trip to the penalty box with 17:12 left in the opening period.
But the Phantoms could not capitalize on the advantage, and gave up a goal to the short-handed national team. Forward Cole Bardreau scored the goal with forward Austin Wuthrich being credited an assist.
A second goal for Team USA, this one by forward Alexx Privatera, but them up by two before the Phantoms could blink.
Carr said the poor performance may have been the result of a long and losing season.
“Unfortunately, I think some of the frustration for how the year has been kind of came out there in the last eight minutes of the game,” Carr said. “Guys kind of let their frustrations show with just how the season has been this year, and it showed in the last eight minutes of the game.”
In those eight minutes, several Phantoms made trips to the penalty box. But the game was already over by that point.
Team USA looked to be taking target practice in the third period, scoring three goals. Team USA scored six times on only 21 shots. The Phantoms took 28 shots.
“I think that the difference was the opportunities we gave up,” Carr said. “[Goaltender] Jordan [Tibbett] has been playing great for us over the past six or seven games, and none of the goals I blame him on. I just think we had breakdowns and gave up shots when we shouldn’t have given up shots.”
One such breakdown came early in the third period and may have been the knockout blow.
The Phantoms defense cleared the puck in front of their own net and tried to maneuver it out to the boards.
But the quick mitts of Team USA forward Dan Carlson snatched the puck and deposited it in the back of the net. The goal, Team USA’s fourth, put the national squad up by two.
Goals by forwards Travis Boyd and Austin Wuthrich alleviated Phantoms fans of any hope for a comeback.
Taking the ice for Team USA was East Palestine native J.T. Miller.
Miller, 17, said it’s always a rush to play close to home.
“It’s a pleasure to come here and play in front of all of my family and friends,” Miller said. “We don’t get to come back much during the year, so it’s good to see everyone, and it’s always fun playing in front of them.”