Phantoms earn split with ’Jacks

Staff report

MUSKEGON, Mich.

The opponent was the same but the results were different Saturday at L.C. Walker Arena, as the Youngstown Phantoms bounced back with a 4-2 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks to split a two-game weekend series.

Travis Belohrad scored first for the Jacks (8-10-0, 16 points), who defeated Youngstown 5-0 Friday night, but the Phantoms scored the next three goals to grab control. Tyler Murray’s first USHL tally with 12:47 left in the game drew Muskegon back within one, but that’s as close as the home side would get.

Youngstown defenseman Eric Sweetman’s first goal of the season iced the contest with 4:37 to play. Third-year center Dylan Margonari assisted on the Phantoms’ first and last goals.

Muskegon goaltender John Keeney faced 40-plus shots for the second straight night, but his 38-save performance wasn’t enough to prevent the Lumberjacks from dropping their first game of the season to the Phantoms (13-6-1, 27 points), who have won five of seven.

Max Shuart, Lance Fredrickson and Nick Seeler all earned assists.

The Phantoms grabbed their first lead of the night with 6:28 remaining in the second when J.T. Stenglein connected from the slot for his team-leading 10th of the season and his eighth in nine games. Mike Ambrosia set him up during a counterattack with a pass from the left circle.

Defenseman Chris Bradley increased Youngstown’s lead to two nearly seven minutes into the third, as his long-range slap shot rattled off Keeney’s right arm and rolled over the goal line.