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PHANTOMS ON A ROLL!
Special to the Vindicator
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Phantoms Goalie Jordan Tibbett (41) stops Tucker Brockett (10) from scoring during their game Sunday afternoon in Youngstown.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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Phantoms Dylan Margonari (91) looks to pass as Tim Weber (14) plays defense during thieir game Sunday afternoon in Youngstown.
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Phantoms' Cody Strang
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Phantoms' Danny Mattson
Mattson, Strang net goals in shootout win over Chicago
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Six points earned in just 45 hours have the Youngstown Phantoms in much better shape for a spring run to the USHL playoffs.
In Sunday’s 2-1 matinee win over the Chicago Steel at the Covelli Centre, Danny Mattson and Cody Strang scored shootout goals against goaltender Connor Wilson who had stopped 50 shots in 65 minutes of action.
“It’s a good weekend, getting all six points,” said Phantoms coach Curtis Carr after his team’s winning streak grew to three. On Friday and Saturday, the Phantoms (19-34-4, 42 points) defeated Team USA by scores of 3-2 in a shootout and 4-1.
“Wilson is good, he’s a very athletic goaltender,” Carr said.
In Chicago’s last visit to the Covelli Centre on Feb. 18, the Phantoms clobbered the Steel and Wilson, 6-0.
“We got to him really early last time, kinda pummeled him,” Carr said. “We didn’t let him get into his groove. This time, he got into a groove.
“That’s the type of goalie that he is when’s he’s feeling good, he makes a lot of saves,” Carr said. “We’re happy that we got the two points but to put up 50 saves and not get the win, you feel bad for him.”
Goaltender Jordan Tibbett stopped 27 shots during the game plus all four breakaway shooters he faced in the shootout to earn his fifth win in 10 games since Feb. 4.
“He played exceptionally well, he did everything we asked him to do for three games,” Carr said. “When we had breakdowns, he was there.”
Mattson, who was traded from the Steel to the Phantoms on Feb. 4, also scored a first-period goal. Four seconds after the Steel’s first penalty expired, Mattson was uncovered at the side of Chicago net and tapped a pass from Scott Mayfield into the net for a 1-0 lead.
Mayfield was skating along the far boards when he spotted his Mattson looking at an empty goal. Ryan Belonger also received an assist.
Two-and-a-half minutes into the second period, the Steel tied the game on Nick D’Avolio’s shot from the faceoff circle to Tibbett’s right. Zach Saar set up the play.
“The goal they got came on kind of a weird bounce and [D’Avilio] made a nice play,” Carr said.
One of Wilson’s biggest saves came in the final minute of the third period when stopped Quinn Smith’s breakaway chance.
After Wilson stopped Adam Berkle on the first shootout shot, Mattson sent the puck over Wilson’s glove hand into the top corner of the net.
“I was kind of waiting him out,” Mattson said of his breakaway strategy. “He made the first move so I decided to go high when he dropped his glove.
“He played very well, he’s a great goaltender and kept them in the game,” Mattson said.
Mattson confirmed that Strang’s shootout shot was similar to his, “but I didn’t say anything to him. Cody just kind of did his thing.”
Strang’s shot followed Ty Loney’s attempt that Wilson stopped with a pad save.
Strang said it helps shooters when they see someone before them have success.
“We’re playing well right now,” Strang said, “Getting six points this weekend was all we could ask for, any point helps right now.”
The three wins puts the Phantoms two points behind fifth-place Team USA and four behind fourth-place Muskegon. The top six teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs but only the first four seeds are guaranteed home games.
“This was a big weekend for us,” Mattson said, “It’s a lot different here, every game means something. [The playoff drive] is going to be a lot of fun. I’m excited to have a chance to make a run.”