Phantoms surrender another goal late

Staff report

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

JJ Piccinich scored twice on Friday but the Youngstown Phantoms fell to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 4-3.

Piccinich’s second goal tied the game 3-3 in the third period.

Alfred Larsson had a chance for a go-ahead goal with a late breakaway, but his attempt whistled wide.

RoughRider Andrew Poturalski then scored the game-winner with 1:14 remaining in regulation. It was the third straight game the Phantoms (1-3-1, 3 points) have surrendered a goal in the final two minutes.

“Of course you can’t give up goals that late, but I don’t think it was a lapse or mental error by anybody,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “The bottom line is you can’t give up a goal on a 2-on-2 rush.

“We get a breakaway one way and it looks like we’re going to be winning the game, and 20 seconds later the puck’s in the back of our net.”

Maxim Letunov scored the Phantoms’ other goal and assisted on one of Piccinich’s goals. Kyle Connor assisted on all three goals.

In goal, Jake Moore turned away 29-of-33 shots.