Phantoms fall to Stars in shootout

Staff report

LINCOLN, NEB.

Jared Hanson’s only goal of the shootout lifted the Lincoln Stars to a 4-3 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms on Friday.

Stars goaltender Jackson Teichroeb stopped the breakaway attempts by Ryan Belonger, Sam Anas and J.T. Stenglein to get the victory.

The loss snapped the Phantoms’ four-game road winning streak.

The Phantoms (25-14-5, 55 points) netted three goals on the power play to carry the lead into the final minutes of the third period, but Dominik Shine scored to force overtime with 23 seconds remaining by beating goaltender Sean Romeo.

Belonger led the Phantoms’ attack with a goal and an assist, while Austin Cangelosi and Soren Jonzzon both found the back of the net. Dylan Margonari added a pair of assists and Romeo turned away 44 of 47 shots.

“Romes was great,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “He held on and made some absolutely huge saves for us in the third period. He gave us every chance to win and he deserved [a win].”

The Phantoms converted on their first two power plays, jumping out to a 2-0 lead on the Stars (26-14-3, 55 points). Cangelosi redirected a Chris Bradley wrist shot from the left circle at the 5:58 for his 22nd goal of the season. Then a few minutes later, with the Phantoms back on the man-advantage, Jonzzon whacked in a one-timer from the slot off a great cycle for Margonari and Belonger to make it 2-0 before the game was 10 minutes old.

“We knew special teams were going to be big,” Noreen said. “Our power play did an excellent job of creating grade ‘A’ opportunities and a great job of capitalizing on them.”

Belonger’s goal put the Phantoms ahead, 3-2.