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Phantoms fall by inches
Muskegon’s goalie stopped Scott Mayfield’s shootout attempt
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
A short-handed goal plus one scored with goaltender Greg Lewis lifted for an extra attacker gave the Youngstown Phantoms an overtime chance against the team they are chasing for a home playoff game.
But the Phantoms’ final hope — Scott Mayfield’s shootout attempt — was stopped by Muskegon goaltender Joel Vienneau to give the Lumberjacks a 4-3 victory Friday at the Covelli Centre.
“Lewis made a big save to keep us in the shootout and Mayfield was about an inch away from tucking it in his 5-hole,” Phantoms coach Curtis Carr said after the Lumberjacks improved to 7-4 in shootouts. “Tonight was decided by about an inch.”
With Lewis on the bench for a sixth attacker with time running out, Ty Loney, the Phantoms’ leading goal scorer, beat Vienneau for his 13th of the season to tie the game at 3. It was the first Phantoms goal of the season with the goaltender pulled.
Loney said Jiri Sekac picked up a rebound of a Mayfield shot.
“He just threw it to the net,” Loney said. “I just went to the net and kind of dug it in, put it between his legs.”
Carr said, “I thought we outplayed them. I thought we had more opportunities and you could feel it coming,”
The Phantoms (13-18-4, 30 points) had a 34-24 edge in shots and earned at least a point for the seventh time in eight games.
“That was huge for us. Obviosuly we’re disappointed that we didn’t get the two points but to pick up a point was huge for us.
“With about 14 seconds left, we ran the same faceoff play and Jiri had it in the slot ... but it just kind of rolled off his stick as he was about to pull the trigger,” Carr said.
Two minutes into the third period, the Lumberjacks (14-14-8, 36 points) snapped a 1-1 tie when Travis Belohrad sent the puck from behind the Phantoms net to Isaac Kohls in the slot. His one-time shot gave Muskegon its first lead.
Midway through the third period, Andrew Sinelli tied the game with a shorthanded goal.
With Mayfield sitting in the penalty box, Mike Ambrosia pounced on a Lumberjacks giveaway then fed Sinelli at the side of the net. His score gave the Phantoms 12 shorthanded goals on the season, the most in the USHL.
With seven minutes remaining, the Lumberjacks snapped a 2-2 tie when Alex Privitera sprung Mike Conderman for a breakaway. Conderman’s shot hit the goal post and deflected into the net.
In the shootout, Adam Berkle and Loney scored while Vienneau stopped Stu Higgins and Sekac. Lewis stopped Chris Lochner and Kohls but gave up goals to Belohrad, Matt Berry and Conderman.
The Lumberjacks were in their 12th shootout. The Phantoms are now 1-2 in shootouts.
“They are probably a little more familiar with the guys that we want to use,” Carr said. “We’re still playing around with our [lineup].”
The Phantoms played without forward Ryan Belonger and defenseman Ben Paulides who were suspended after last Saturday’s mega-brawl against Waterloo,
Just nine seconds into their first power play, the Phantoms had a 1-0 lead on Berkle’s shot from near the blue line. Loney and Cody Strang assisted. Berry’s second-period goal tied the game.