Loney, Tibbett lead Phantoms to second straight victory

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Ty Loney had a goal and assist while Jordan Tibbett rejected all but one shot as the Youngstown Phantoms defeated Team USA, 4-1, on Saturday at the Covelli Centre.

On “Local Heroes Night,” the Phantoms had their share of heroes as they moved to 3-1 on their current seven-game homestand and 10-10-3 overall at home.

“We’ve been playing excellent hockey since Christmas,” Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said. “We’re battling everyone, our attitude is absolutely fantastic and we’re working together as a team.

“We have 14 regular season games left,” Carr said. “It’s not about trying to play catch up with anyone in the division as much as it is about us taking care of how we play.

“Right now, we just have to take care of business on this seven-game homestand,” Carr said.

The Phantoms got on the board first at 12:07 of the opening period when Dylan Margonari, with an assist from Ben Paulides notched his fourth goal of the season.

The lead grew to 2-0 when Scott Mayfield added an unassisted tally at 14:58.

For Mayfield, it was his sixth goal of the year and his third unassisted score, tying him with Loney for the team lead in the latter category as the Phantoms outshot Team USA in the opening frame, 12-4.

The Phantoms held a 10-8 shots on goal edge in the second period but neither team scored.

Midway through the final period, Team USA’s Austin Wuthrich received a five-minute major penalty and a game-ejection for checking from behind and it took just 49 seconds for the Phantoms to capitalize.

Danny Mattson, with an assist from Loney, launched his first goal of the season past the outstretched glove of Team USA goalie Jared Rutledge at 9:38.

Mattson credited Loney for his first goal as a Phantom.

“It was a nice pass from Ty [Loney] as he chipped the puck right to me and I was able to tip it in,” Mattson said. “When you have Jordan playing like he did in goal and a defense that was all over the ice, good things tend to happen and it did for us tonight.”

Youngstown (18-24-4, 40 points) surged to a 4-0 lead when Loney notched his team-leading 20th goal.

Team USA’s Frankie Vatrano scored a power-play goal late.

Tibbett, who improved to 4-5-0 since joining the te on Feb. 4, said his teammates really helped out the entire night.

“When your teammates play like they did tonight in front of the net, it makes my job really easy,” Tibbet said. “I just need to make sure that I make the routine saves.

“Playing 60 games can be tiring but as long as you don’t get too high when you are up and too low when you are down, then you will be alright,” Tibbett said.

The Phantoms improved to 4-0-1 in five games played against Team USA while Team USA fell to 7-1-2 in their last 10 outings.

Youngstown will play their third game in as many days today when they play host to the Chicago Steel at 2 p.m.