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Phantoms’ goal: find a way to score more
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
After being swept in a weekend series against the Sioux Falls Stampede, the Youngstown Phantoms know they’ve got to find ways to start scoring a lot more goals.
“That’s an area we really need to improve on,” said Phantoms assistant coach Brad Patterson after Saturday’s 3-1 loss at the Covelli Centre. Patterson and Michael Zucker are sharing as head coach responsibilities for two weeks while Anthony Noreen is in Nova Scotia as an assistant coach for Team USA in an international tournament.
“It doesn’t feel a whole lot different because Anthony is so good with us,” Patterson said. “He treats us with respect.
“We do miss him, absolutely, his energy, his knowledge around the bench,” said Patterson who is in his fifth season with the Phantoms. “It is a good experience for us, but we obviously would like it a little bit more if we had two wins to back it up.”
The Stampede (9-4-1, 19 points) is one of the USHL’s Western Conference’s top teams and lost to the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the Robertson Cup finals in May.
Friday, the Stampede trampled the Phantoms 6-1, scoring three goals in each of the first and second periods. Goaltender Sean Romeo (1-4-0) was injured in the first period so the Phantoms (4-9-1, 9 points) turned to newcomer Colin DeAugustine. In Saturday’s 3-1 loss, DeAugustine stopped 21 shots in a 3-1 loss.
Tied 1-1 going to the third period, the Phantoms gave up two goals in the first three minutes. Forward Tyler Spezia says the team has to do better at playing hard for 60 minutes.
“We’re not going to dwell on this,” Spezia said. “We’re going to have a quick memory and get ready for Fargo next week.”
Saturday’s game showed a much stronger effort compared to Friday’s blowout.
“We were [more] willing to get to the gritty areas and take a hit to make a play,” said forward Josh Nenadal who scored the Phantoms’ goal. “I think that made the biggest difference.”
Nenadal’s goal was set up by a pass from defenseman Steven Ruggierio.
“If I’m scoring, hopefully our guys will pick it up a bit,” Nenadal said. Hockey’s a game of luck sometimes and it wasn’t on our side tonight, but it’s a great sight to see that we’re getting [good] chances.”
Hope might be on the horizon: Fargo (3-9-0, 6 points) is the last-place team in the Western Conference.
“Next weekend is a proving time for [us] — we need to get out of a rut,” Nenadal said. “We need to go out and play like we did in this game, except for maybe those two minutes in the third period.
“We’re going to be fine.”