Despite sweep, Phantoms improve

Staff report

MUSKEGON, MICH

Despite falling 2-1 to the Muskegon Lumberjacks on Saturday night, Youngstown Phantoms head coach said, “We were the better team tonight,”

Noreen said the Phantoms showed much improvement from Friday’s 5-1 loss to the Lumberjacks at L.C. Walker Arena.

“Without a doubt, they were better team last night, but we were the better team tonight for all three periods,” Noreen said after Saturday’s game. “I thought we outplayed them in the first, we definitely outplayed them in the second, and I thought we outplayed them in the third.

“I thought we were desperate from the get go, and we without a doubt deserved better,” Noreen said. “If you went and looked at quality scoring chances, it was probably the most that we’ve had in a game all year.”

The Phantoms were stymied by Lumberjacks goaltender Eric Schierhorn, who stopped 40 of 41 shots en route to his second consecutive win. He saw much last action in Friday’s romp, making just 19 saves.

Phantoms goaltender Sean Romeo turned aside 29 of 31 shots on goal.

Chris Dodero’s first-period goal put the Lumberjacks ahead, 1-0. Max Iacopelli, the USHL’s leading goal scorer, made it 2-0 in the second period.

Maxim Lentunov sliced the lead in half with a Phantoms goal late in the second period.

“It’s one of those things where if we weren’t getting chances, we’d worry,” Noreen said. “[Friday], we didn’t have that many chances.

“There was a lot that needed to be fixed after last night’s game, and I thought our guys did a good job of adjusting to the few things that we did adjust,” Noreen said. “Our line shakeups allowed for some cohesion, and more playmaking.”

The Phantoms will prepare for three games this weekend. Friday’s game against Team USA has been moved up to a 10:15 a.m. start because their February school-day event was affected by a snowstorm that caused most schools to close.

The Phantoms then will play road games against the Indiana Ice and Team USA on Saturday and Sunday.

The Phantoms will close the regular season with four home games at the Covelli Centre on March 28-29 and April 4-5.