Phantoms host Ice Saturday at Covelli
YOUNGSTOWN
With the Holiday break behind them, the Youngstown Phantoms turn their attention toward the New Year and what is sure to be a heated postseason race. But there’s one more job for the Phantoms (12-15-0, 24 points) to take care of before closing the book on 2012 – a Saturday night faceoff with the Indiana Ice in the Covelli Centre.
Week in review
Game No. 26: Phantoms Stifled By Team USA, Fall 3-0
The Phantoms were smothered by a staunch defensive U.S. Under-18 Team Friday night at the Covelli Centre, falling 3-0 in their first game on home ice in nearly a month. Team USA (6-18-3, 15 points) got a goal midway in the second period, and was able to pot a pair of insurance markers in the third, while the Phantoms struggled to finish their chances at the other end. Youngstown goaltender Sean Romeo allowed three goals on 27 shots, while the National Team defense made things easy for his counterpart, Thatcher Demko, who faced just 12 shots to record his first shutout of the season.
Game No. 27: Romeo Posts Fourth Shutout, Phantoms Rebound Against Team USA
The Phantoms came out Saturday night with renewed intensity and returned the favor by shutting out Team 3-0 at the Covelli Centre so secure the split on the weekend. First-year forward Luke Stork scored with less than three minutes left in the first period and that was more than enough for Romeo, who turned away all 28 of Team USA’s shots to post his fourth shutout of the season. Right wing Sam Anas and defenseman Tommy Davis both had multi-point nights for the Phantoms as each chipped in with a goal and an assist.
Loose Pucks
Goalie Sean Romeo has started 12 straight games and posted shutouts in four of his past five wins. The second-year netminder already owns the Phantoms franchise record for career and single season shutouts and trails only Muskegon’s Kevin Lindskoug for the USHL lead. ... Romeo is also the only USHL goaltender to shut out the U.S. National Under-18 Team this season to go along with a pair of shutouts against the Under-17 Team. ... Blue liner Tommy Davis led the Phantoms in scoring chances on Friday night, but was unable to capitalize. Saturday night, however, the Princeton recruit made the most of them, notching a goal and an assist for the first multi-point night of his USHL career.
The Week Ahead
Game No. 28: Saturday at 7:15 p.m. SEnD Phantoms vs. Indiana. The Phantoms and Ice meet for the final time in 2012 at the Covelli Centre, and with four teams battling for fourth place in the Eastern Conference — and the final playoff spot that comes with it — two critical points are on the line. After finishing second in the East last season, Indiana (12-17-2, 24 points) has struggled to replicate its success in 2012-13. Of late, however, the Ice have been sizzling with wins in five of their last seven games, including three straight heading into the weekend. Indiana forward Austin Ortega has been scoring at a torrid pace and is tied for the USHL lead with 19 goals, but Youngstown has limited the skilled center to just a pair of assists in two previous outings. The Phantoms came away with the win on both occasions, racking up a combine 11 goals, six of which came via the power play.
They Said It
“Not many teams can turn it around completely within 24 hours. It just shows the kind of heart and character this team has to do that. It’s something to be proud of.” — Goaltender Sean Romeo, on the Phantoms’ bounce-back win Saturday.
Phantoms Leaders
Points: Austin Cangelosi (10-16-26)
Goals: Sam Anas (12)
Assists: John Padulo (17)
Power-Play Goals: Anas, Markus McCrea (3)
Short-Handed Goals: Cangelosi (2, T-second in USHL)
Plus/Minus: Dan Renouf (plus-18, T-fifth in USHL)
Penalty Minutes: Padulo (71)
Points by a Defenseman: Ryan Lowney (3-12-15)
Wins: Sean Romeo (10)
Goals Against Average: Romeo (3.04)
Save Percentage: Romeo (.902)
Shutouts: Romeo (4, second in USHL)
Kid’s Day Game
The Phantoms are giving kids the chance to run the show Saturday. Members of Sparky’s Kids Club will helping out the staff and promo team throughout the game, taking part in activities like the pizza box toss, in-arena hosting and even the interviews on the radio. Additionally Jocko The Clown will on the concourse with face painting and Design-A-Sign. Tickets are just $5 for children under 14 and each kid gets a free bounce in the Bounce-A-Round House. Plus the first 500 children through the door will receive a free Phantoms rubber wristband.