Injured Phantoms blanked to end long road trip

Staff report

Sioux Falls, S.D.

Minus forwards Alfred Larsson and John Padulo, the Youngstown Phantoms were shorthanded up front for Saturday’s game against the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Things got much worse during the 4-0 loss to the Stampede when forwards Austin Cangelosi, Kyle Connor, Mac MacSorley and Markus McCrea were unable to finish the game.

“We had eight forwards out by the end and I’ll tell you what — this as honest as I can shoot it — it was by far the best effort we’ve given all year,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “It’s one of those games where you feel bad because the guys deserved better.”

Goaltender Sean Romeo made 29 saves as the Phantoms (4-5-0, 8 points) lost their fifth-straight game and third in as many days.

The Stampede (5-3-0, 10 points) grabbed the lead eight minutes in when Tony Calderone, put a puck low on Romeo. Youngstown nearly knotted the game up minutes later when JT Stenglein intercepted a puck at the Sioux Falls blue line and fired it on net, but it rang off the post.

Stampede forward Thomas Forgione was awarded a penalty shot, but Romeo stayed with his moves and his backhand attempt missed the net.

Phantoms defensemen Dan Renouf and Ryan Lowney were whistled for penalties just nine second apart. The Phantoms, however, were able to kill off the 5-on-3.

CJ Franklin, Dennis Kravchenko and Forgione had the other Stampede goals.