Phantoms steal victory over Chicago in matinee

Staff report

Youngstown

The Youngstown Phantoms overcame a first-period deficit to beat Chicago Steel, 2-1, Wednesday morning at the Covelli Centre.

Kiefer Sherwood and Trey Bradley were the goal scorers for the Phantoms (11-6-3, 25 points), who picked up their first win of the season over the Steel (9-9-2, 20).

“The last four or five games have been the best hockey Trey has played for us and it starts with his compete level,” Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen said. “He’s been really feisty on the puck and hard on his back pressure.

“He’s making plays and being rewarded for it.”

Bradley’s power- play goal in the closing seconds of the second period wound up being the game-winner for the Phantoms. It was Bradley’s second goal of the season and the team’s second goal of the game on the man-advantage.

“The coaches have told me to shoot more in practice and I’m bearing down more, so it was nice to get another one,” Bradley said.

The tying goal came less than three minutes earlier. Sherwood was the beneficiary of a fortuitous bounce in front of the net. Forward Kyle Connor picked up the assist, giving him 15.

“Kyle made a great back-door pass to me and I tried to get a little of my stick on it, but it actually ended up going in off of my skate,” Sherwood said. “I’ve been trying to shoot the puck more as of late and create chances, so it was nice to see one go in.”

Chris Birdsall allowed only the one goal, while stopping 27 shots, to preserve the win.

“I thought they were the hungrier and faster team in the first period, but Birdsall really kept us in it,” Noreen said. “Our second- and third-period effort earned it for us with some big penalty kills and team defense.”