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Phantoms open at the Covelli Centre with a 3-2 victory over USHL champs
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
A pair of unassisted goals including a very fluky one gave the Youngstown Phantoms a 3-2 home opener win over the USHL’s defending champions.
Quinn Smith’s goal six minutes into the third period came on a shot from the hashmarks in the faceoff circle to the right of Green Bay goalie Adam Wilcox. The puck bounced off a Gamblers defender and through Wilcox’s legs to give the Phantoms a 3-1 lead on Saturday at the Covelli Centre.
“Very ugly goal,” said Smith who admitted he didn’t see the puck go over the goal line.
“I believe it bounced off one of their players and trickled through the five-hole of the goalie,” said Smith of his first goal of the season. “There was a huge scrum and I just threw the puck [at the net], hoping something would happen.”
That goal proved crucial when the Gamblers (2-2-1, five points) reduced the Phantoms’ advantage to one goal with 4:32 remaining.
The Phantoms (4-0-1, eight points) were about to be assessed a penalty when the Gamblers’ Austin Czarnik came up with the puck in the corner and passed to William Kessel skating to the net. Kessel’s shot eluded Phantoms goalie Matt O’Connor for a 3-2 score.
Down the stretch, the Phantoms tightened play in their zone to earn their fourth win in five games.
“We worked hard, we battled,” Smith said. “We didn’t play the full 60 minutes but we came out with the W.”
O’Connor stopped 23 shots to improve to 4-1.
“Matt O’Connor has been nothing but great since we put him in the net,” Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said. “He’s really taken charge of the role that he’s going to be number one.
“He’s shown his capability and we couldn’t be happier,” Carr said.
O’Connor stopped six shots in the final period.
“It’s been a nice start to the season,” O’Connor said. “Last time we played Green Bay was at the [preseason] Fall Classic and they sneaked away with a win. We really came hard today with a bit of redemption.
“The team is looking good right now,” O’Connor said. “The [defensemen] are blocking shots, we’re working hard in the corners and in a game that close, that’s what it takes, [winning] those small battles.”
In the early going, O’Connor was busy stopping the Gamblers’ first four shots while the Phantoms found their legs. He stopped nine shots in the opening frame.
“The first eight minutes, we were a little off our game,” O’Connor admitted.
With four minutes remaining in the first period, Ryan Belonger pounced on a Gamblers’ giveaway in front of Wilcox and blasted a 20-foot shot for a 1-0 lead.
A minute into the second period, just after Jiri Sekac had exited the penalty box, the Phantoms’ leading scorer struck again. Ty Loney smacked a rebound off of Wilcox’s goalie pad into the net for a 2-0 lead. Sekac received an assist on Loney’s third goal of the season and fifth point.
Midway through the second period, the Gamblers’ Robert Francis beat O’Connor off a feed from Jean-Paul LaFontaine.
The win gives the Phantoms first place alone in the USHL’ Eastern Division.
“This group has experience in our organization and with me as a coach,” said Carr comparing this year’s team to last year’s expansion squad. Nine players are back for their second season in Youngstown. “It’s a big difference.”