Busy 48 hours looms for Phantoms

February 6, 2015 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

In the past two weeks, the Youngstown Phantoms went toe-to-toe with the USHL’s top team and earned a split of four games.

However, after winning twice in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, two weekends ago, the Phantoms (19-13-5, 43 points) lost both games last weekend at the Covelli Centre, missing a golden opportunity to separate themselves from the Madison Capitols in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

Following Saturday’s 5-0 shutout loss to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen found positives.

“I thought we generated a ton of Grade-A scoring opportunities,” Noreen said after Ryan Larkin blanked the Phantoms. It was the second time the Phantoms had been shut out as well as the second time in six games. “We drew more power plays and were disciplined.

“They did a really good job on their penalty kill,” Noreen said. “There is a reason why we love our group and it was on display.

“[But] we need to be a little bit dirtier in front of the net — that’s something we’ll work on.”

After last Friday’s 6-1 Cedar Rapids victory, the RoughRiders took a 3-0 lead into the final three minutes of round two and scored two empty-net goals.

The power play went 0-for 4 after going 0-for-6 in the 4-1 game.

“The effort level showed, the puck just wasn’t going intto the back of the net,” said Phantoms captain Josh Nenadal, noting they produced 46 shots. “When we’re shooting the puck on net, we’re [usually] good.

“We just weren’t putting it in.”

Goaltender Chris Birdsall stopped 17 shots against his former team. He gave up four in the first game before being lifted for Colin DeAugustine.

“I loved our performance tonight, and I thought we were the better team,” Noreen said after Saturday’s game. “Outside of a couple of chances here and there, they didn’t get much, and that’s as good of a team we’re going to play all season.”

This weekend, the Phantoms will play three times within 48 hours. The road trip opens tonight in Muskegon, Mich., against the second-place Lumberjacks (24-13-3, 51 points). After the game, they’ll ride the bus to Madison, Wis., where they will play the fifth-place Capitols (17-12-7, 41 points) on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

It will be the Phantoms’ first trip to Madison to play the first-year team. Three weeks ago, the Capitols visit Youngstown for the first time and swept the Phantoms by scores of 4-0 and 5-3.

The top four teams qualify for the postseason.