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Phantoms surrender late goal before falling in shootout to Sioux Falls
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The Youngstown Phantoms’ Mike Ambrosia (14) battles Sioux Falls’ Bryan Moore (21) for the puck during Thursday’s USHL game at the Covelli Centre. The Phantoms fell to the Stampede 2-1 in a shootout.
Phantoms surrender late goal before falling in shootout to Sioux Falls
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown Phantoms’ struggles on the power-play caught up with them Thursday at the Covelli Centre.
Nursing a 1-0 lead for most of the game against Sioux Falls, the Phantoms surrendered a goal late in the third period then fell in a shootout, 2-1.
“Extremely” is how Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen described his level of frustration after the Phantoms’ four-game winning streak was snapped. “We played OK and we’re not good enough to play OK.”
After Austin Cangelosi scored on the Phantoms’ first shot of the shootout, Justin Selman beat Phantoms goaltender Matt O’Connor on the glove side.
In round three, Kyle Rankin beat O’Connor with a backhand shot while Phantoms captain Mike Ambrosia’s shot sailed wide.
“That’s a tough way to start the weekend,” said Ambrosia after the Phantoms’ record in overtime/shootouts dropped to 3-1. “All of us didn’t play a great game and finish our checks in the beginning.
“And they stayed around,” said Ambrosia of the Stampede (8-7-1, 17 points). “It could have been two-or-three to nothing if we had buried our chances, but they hung around.
“We need to learn from it and move on.”
The Phantoms (12-5-1, 25 points) earned a point to tie Dubuque for the third-best record in the USHL.
“We weren’t happy with out effort, that’s the bottom line,” said Stephen Collins who scored the Phantoms’ goal late in the first period. “We have to comeback tomorrow and take it to Muskegon.”
The Phantoms play the Lumberjacks tonight and Saturday in Michigan. Noreen said he’ll decide late in the morning if O’Connor (10-3-1) will start tonight. Backup goalie Sean Romeo is 2-2.
“We’ll have a light workout and stretch, then make a decision,” Noreen said. “Based on how well he played tonight, we’re going to give him the choice.”
O’Connor stopped 30 shots. Two of his best saves came on the Stampede’s first power play when he twice stuffed Todd Skirving form close range.
With 4:22 remaining, Stampede defenseman Dan Carlson stripped the puck from Alex Gacek at the Stampede blueline then led a rush into the Phantoms’ zone. Ryan Keller whiffed on a shot but Ed McGovern swooped in with a shot to snap O’Connor’s shutout bid.
The Stampede dominated early, opening up a 9-3 advantage in shots. However, Collins scored the only goal in the opening two periods.
Richard Zehnal set up the goal, skating toward the net, then passing to Collins just outside of the crease. Collins was knocked to the ice just after he released his shot.
“Z just threw it in front and I was battling for it,” said Collins of his spill to the ice as the puck hit the net for his first goal in 18 games. “It felt good to get that first goal, it was exciting.”
Pat Conte earned the other assist.
The Phantoms went 0-for-4 on the power play. They are 9-of-85 on the season with the man advantage.
“Power play is a lot like goaltending, where a lot of it has to do with confidence,” Noreen said. “You don’t want to get down on them too much. Are there some points where we need to get better on? Absolutely.
“But he main focus right now is let’s go out and try and outwork the [penalty killers].”