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Lemos’ goal secures Phantoms’ win over Gamblers
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
After Friday’s 3-2 victory over the Green Bay Gamblers at the Covelli Centre, Youngstown Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen agreed his team’s prospects are much brighter than a year ago.
“It feels a lot better,” Noreen said after the Phantoms improved to 16-9-5, 37 points at the halfway point of the USHL season. Last year, the Phantoms’ two-season playoff streak ended with a thud with a last-place finish.
“Obviously, our goals are a lot bigger than where we are right now,” Noreen said. “The second half starts our run.”
Lukas Craggs’ goal midway through the second period snapped a 1-1 tie. With 12 minutes remaining, Bryan Lemos made it 3-1 after a nice feed from Taylor Best.
Goaltender Colin DeAugustine, who led the team in wins last season, stopped 25 shots to improve to 10-6-0.
“This year is definitely a lot more fun,” DeAugustine said. “We’re doing a lot better, everyone likes winning and gets along well.
“Hopefully, we can pick it up from here and go on to the playoffs.”
The victory gives the fourth-place Phantoms a five-point lead over Madison and seven over Green Bay. The top four teams in the Eastern Conference qualify for the playoffs.
Josh Nenadal set up Craggs’ goal with a pass to center ice. The first-year Phantoms forward churned into the Gamblers’ zone and launched a shot from the faceoff circle that beat Gamblers goaltender Jason Pawloski.
“Josh sent me a pass up the middle and I just corralled it,” Craggs said. “I took a shot and luckily it went in. It’s a great confidence boost.”
On the third goal, the Phantoms took advantage when a Gamblers defenseman lost control of the puck and Lemos swooped.
“Later in the period, a lot of snow builds up and he bobbled it,” said Lemos’ linemate Taylor Best. “Lemos came around and scooped it and he saw me behind him and made a little drop pass.”
Best prepared to shoot, but then spotted Lemos alone.
“He did a good job of finding some open space,” Best said. “I was shooting it all the way until I saw him pop out. Both [defenders] came to me so it’s nice to give a guy an open [shot].”
Unguarded, Lemos didn’t miss the open net.
“I like scoring goals, everyone does, but when you can get a guy an open net like that, that was nice,” Best said.
That goal proved important when the Gamblers pulled Pawloski in the final minute and Derek Barach scored with 42 seconds remaining.
DeAugustine said he didn’t lose focus.
“I knew our guys were playing well in front of me, so I didn’t really worry too much,” DeAugustine said. “Two seconds left, Matty Miller came up with a big block to help me out.”
The Phantoms and Gamblers play again tonight.
“This weekend is huge and it’s far from over,” Best said. “We can’t afford to give two points away.
“We can’t afford to let teams crawl back into games. We’ve got to learn to close games out.”
In the first period, Kiefer Sherwood scored a power-play goal to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. Brian Bowen’s unassisted goal tied the game early in the second period.