Phantoms face Steel, Nationals


February 16, 2012 at 12:05a.m.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A shootout loss to their archrivals has the Youngstown Phantoms (24-13-4, 52 points) still looking up at three teams in USHL’s Eastern Conference race.

Last Sunday at the Covelli Centre, the fourth-place Phantoms trailed 3-1 in the third period before rallying to force overtime against the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Mike Ambrosia and Dylan Margonari scored in the final 11 minutes to tie the game.

After the five-minute overtime, the Lumberjacks won the game when two of their five shooters beat goaltender Matt O’Connor. Ryan Belonger was the only Phantom to beat Lumberjacks goalie Hayden Stewart.

“I don’t hold much stock in shootouts. It’s a tie in my book,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “It’s great for the fans but the only stock I hold in it is we should not have let it get to that point.”

However, that lost point in the standings has the Phantoms one point behind the Dubuque Fighting Saints (25-13-3, 53 points) and three behind the Indiana Ice (25-10-5, 55 points).

The Green Bay Gamblers (323-7-2, 66 points) have the best record in the league,

This weekend, the Phantoms will play two teams from the lower half of the Eastern Conference standings.

On Friday, the Phantoms will take on the last-place Chicago Steel (13-27-1, 27 points, Sunday afternoon, the Phantoms will be in Ann Arbor, Mich., to play sixth-place Team USA (18-13-4, 40 points).

Noreen hopes for more production from Margonari, who scored two of the Phantoms’ regulation goals last Sunday.

“There’s no doubt Dylan is capable of playing in the NHL one day,” Noreen said. “There aren’t many guys who can skate and compete the way Dylan does.

“He’s gotten bigger, he’s gotten stronger and now he’s starting to fill out his frame a little bit,” Noreen said. “Now he’s got the ability not only to blow past guys with his speed, but overpower them with his strength to get to the net as well.”

Ambrosia’s point-scoring streak has grown to 11 straight games. He has three goals, 15 assists and 18 points over that span.