Jonzzon, Stenglein lead Phantoms

Staff report

Ann Arbor, mich.

Team USA was the only Eastern Conference opponent the Phantoms had yet to defeat, but that changed with a 5-4 win Sunday at the Ice Cube.

The Phantoms (25-14-4) got two goals each from Soren Jonzzon and J.T. Stenglein, while Alex Gacek found the back of the net for the second straight game to round out the scoring.

Phantoms captain Mike Ambrosia’s point streak was halted at 12 games, but newly-added forward Zach Evancho registered an assist in his first USHL game.

In net, Matthew O’Connor turned away 27 of 31 shots — coming up with several saves late in the third period for his 22nd win of the season

“It’s definitely a relief to get the monkey off our back and get that win out of the way,” Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen said. “It gives us some confidence. We’ve got three more against this team and now we know we can beat them.”

Team USA had won the previous four games against the Phantoms this season.

Jonzzon started off the scoring at the 4:49 mark in the first period. He corralled a loose puck at center ice, carried it in the zone with speed and roofed a wrist shot from the slot for his fourth of the season.

Gacek made it 2-0 just 1:24 into the second period when he put a wrist shot from the left circle past Team USA netminder Hunter Miska. Jordan Young set him up with an excellent feed from the far point through traffic.

Stenglein followed that with a pair of goals in less than a five-minute span. The first came of a lightning-fast wrist shot from the top of the slot at the 7:28 mark, and the second came with 11:46 remaining in the period, when he knocked the puck in amidst a free-for-all in front of the net.

Jonzzon scored his second to give the Phantoms a 5-3 lead.