Lumberjacks extend Phantoms’ skid to two

Staff report

MUSKEGON, Mich.

The Youngstown Phantoms’ scoring woes continued on Friday as the Muskegon Lumberjacks blanked them, 5-0.

The Phantoms’ power play went 0-for-7 against the Lumberjacks. On the season, the Phantoms are only 9-for-92 with the extra skater.

“We had enough grade ‘A’ opportunities to score enough goals to win,” Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen said. “For one reason or another it was just one of those nights where the puck wasn’t going in for us.”

After winning four straight, the Phantoms’ losing streak grew to two. Thursday at the Covelli Centre, the Phantoms (12-6-1, 25 points) led the Sioux Falls Stampede, 1-0, for most of the game until the Stampede scored a late goal and then won the shootout.

The Phantoms were unable to score on the power play against the Stampede as they were blanked during their four opportunities.

Playing on consecutive nights, goaltender Matt O’Connor (10-4-1) took the loss, stopping 20 of the Lumberjacks’ 25 shots.

Lumberjacks goaltender John Kenney was the game’s top player, stopping all 44 of the Phantoms’ shots.

John Padulo scored the first two goals of the game. The first came in the final minute of the first period. Assisting were Ryan Bullock and Nick Seeler.

Midway through the second period, Padulo scored again, this time on an assist from Mike McNicholas.

Adam Chlapik’s power-play goal in the final minute of the second period made it 3-0. With defenseman Eric Sweetman in the penalty box for elbowing, Chlapik scored on assists from Jordan Masters and Bullock.

Padulo and Travis Belohrad assisted on Max Shuart’s third-period goal. Lance Fredrickson completed the scoring on another assist by McNicholas.

The Phantoms and Lumberjacks play again tonight. Youngstown’s next home game will be on Dec. 10 against the Chicago Steel at the Covelli Centre.