43
Phantoms goaltender O’Connor steals victory in USHL battle
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
In a battle for third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference, the Dubuque Fighting Saints were dominant for more than half of Friday’s game at the Covelli Centre.
But Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Matt O’Connor stood tall as a fortress, stopping all but one of the Fighting Saints’ first 26 shots to keep the Phantoms’ chances alive.
Then the Phantoms roared to life late in the second period as goals by Todd Koritzinzky and Ryan Belonger snapped 1-1 tie. O’Connor stopped 40 shots as the Phantoms edged the Saints, 3-2, for their second one-goal win in as many nights.
“In a 60-game season, there are going to be times where your goalie is going ot flat-out have to steal you a game,” Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen said. “That’s the story tonight — Matt O’Connor stole us a game.
“He’s the backbone of our team, he led by example and the other guys jumped on his back.”
O’Connor didn’t mind being so busy.
“I generally like a lot of action, it keeps me more focused,” O’Connor said. “It’s nice when you are on your game.”
Peppered by the Saints early and often, O’Connor made 19 saves in the first period. The only shot that eluded him was a backhander by Jono Davis who picked up the puck near the Phantoms’ blue line and skated into the slot.
Davis’ shot was the Fighting Saints’ ninth as they opened with a 14-2 advantage.
Austin Cangelosi wiped out the rough start when he connected on the Phantoms’ third shot. Michael Gunn initiated a two-on-one breakaway with a pass to Mike Ambrosia.
The Phantoms captain carried the puck into the Saints’ zone, then fed the unguarded Cangelosi on his left.
Playing before a boisterous crowd of approximately 3,000 fans, the Phantoms continued to struggle in the middle period.
Failing to register a shot for more than 11 minutes of the middle frame, Koritzinsky ignited a momentum switch when he pounced on a Saints’ mistake in their zone and surprised goaltender Matt Morris for a 2-1 Phantoms lead.
“[A Saint] dished the puck off the boards and it was sitting there for me, so I grabbed it, got some speed and beat him top-shelf,” Koritzinsky said.
Late in the period, Koritzinsky picked up the puck behind the Saints goal then flipped a sharp pass to Belonger in the slot. Belonger snapped the puck past the startled Morris.
“Coach was telling us to keep dumping pucks behind them,” Koritzinsky said. “I heard Ryan yelling so I sent it to him.”
Despite being outshot 33-12 over the first 40 minutes, the Phantoms led, 3-1.
“Unbelievable atmosphere tonight,” O’Connor said of the large contingent of Youngstown State University and Boardman Glenwood Middle School choir supporters.
Late in the third period, T.J. Moor beat O’Connor on a breakaway to cut the margin to one goal. The Saints out-shot the Phantoms, 42-19.
“Sometimes, a goalie would rather see a ton of shots rather than go five-six minutes where they don’t see a shot and all of the sudden there is a Grade A chance,” Noreen said. “I’m sure that’s what happened to [Morris].”
The win gives the Phantoms (21-12-3, 45 points) sole possession of third place and moves them two points behind the Indiana Ice for second. The Saints (20-11-3, 43) have two extra games to play.