Phantoms rally but lose by one to Dubuque

February 6, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Youngstown

Dubuque scored three unanswered goals then withstood a late Youngstown rally as the Fighting Saints posted a 4-3 victory over the Phantoms in USHL action on Saturday at the Covelli Centre.

“Youngstown is a very, very good team and in my eyes, outplayed us three of the four times that we met,” Dubuque coach Jim Montgomery said. “For what ever reason, we were able to score more points.

“The key for us tonight was that we managed the puck and forechecked well,” said Montgomery. “Our power play was good but we did allow two shorthanded goals.”

T.J. Schlueter, who had a goal and assist for the Western Conference leaders, said the game was very physical.

“They had a lot of shots on goal but they came mainly from the outside,” said Schlueter. “For us, getting the puck to the net and keeping bodies around the net for rebound opportunities was the key.”

The Phantoms, who had scored just two goals in three previous outings against the Fighting Saints, got on the board first just 3:55 into the game when Andrew Sinelli’s fifth goal of the season sailed past the outstretched glove of goalie Jackson Teichroeb.

It was Sinelli’s team-tying second shorthanded goal this year (Mike Ambrosia also has two shorthanded goals) and the team’s sixth overall when faced with the player disadvantage.

Dubuque (23-8-6, 52 points) knotted the game at 1-all on their second power play try at 11:46 of the period when Schlueter slipped his shot past Phantoms netminder Jordan Tibbett for his 10th goal of the season.

Youngstown (13-21-4, 30 points) regained the lead at 14:20 when Cody Strang assisted Jiri Sekac on his power play tally, but the lead was short-lived and they had to settle for a 2-all tie after the first 20 minutes when the Fighting Saints’ Shane Walsh found the back of the Phantoms net at the 18:32 mark.

Dubuque took the lead at 12:38 of the second period when Tony Larson and Schlueter assisted Joe Bueltel on his second goal of the year.

Tyler Lundey added a goal for Dubuque with five second remaining to make it 4-2.

The Phantoms pulled to within 4-3 on Strang’s second shorthanded goal of the year at 14:32 of the final period, but that would be the closest they could get.

”Dubuque’s top line is very good and they have arguably the best player in the league in [Vinny] Saponari,” said Phantoms coach Curtis Carr. I thought we played well and had our opportunities to win.

“When we stick to our system, like we did tonight, we can hang with them.”