Gamblers’ Rutledge blanks Phantoms

Staff report

GREEN BAY, WIS.

Twenty-four hours after pummeling the Green Bay Gamblers with seven goals, the Youngstown Phantoms scored none in Saturday night’s rematch.

Gamblers goaltender Jared Rutledge stopped 26 shots as the Gamblers defeated the Phantoms, 3-0, at the Resch Center.

Sean Romeo made 25 saves, allowing second-period goals to Nick Schmaltz and Ryan Lough. Green Bay’s Anthony Walsh scored an empty-net goal.

Schmaltz’s goal came on the power play and was assisted by Connor Hurley.

Less than two minutes later, Lough scored a short-handed goal.

Youngstown went 0-for-5 on the power play. Phantoms penalty killers foiled three of Green Bay’s four opportunities.

The shutout followed the Phantoms’ best offensive game of the season in Friday’s 7-3 victory.

“We had a great mix of everything,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen after Friday’s win. “The line that started out for us — [Alfred] Larsson, [Josh] Nenadal, and [Conor] Lemirande — they set the tone. We need those guys to do that.

“[Luke] Stork, [Tyler] Spezia, and [Zach] Evancho did a great job speed-wise and defensively, and our top two skill lines did their job,” Noreen said. “You saw a little bit of everything with what we try to bring to the table, and on top of that, our defensemen did a tremendous job blocking shots, and Sean made some big saves when we needed him to.”

This afternoon, the Phantoms will be in Bensenville, Ill., to play the Chicago Steel then return home to prepare for Thursday’s game at the Covelli Centre against the defending USHL champion Dubuque Fighting Saints.