Phantoms wipe out huge deficit then fall


By Cody McCullough

sports@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

After plenty of roars filled the arena from the banner raising to a furious comeback, a pin drop could have been heard at the Covelli Centre on Saturday night when Team USA Under-18 team scored an empty-net goal to seal Saturday’s 6-4 victory over the Youngstown Phantoms.

After the Phantoms fought from way back, Clayton Keller put the final nail in the coffin with his goal after goaltender Ryan Bednard was lifted for an extra attacker.

On a night that started with the raising of the Phantoms’ regular-season championship banner (a Covelli Centre first), the Phantoms came out flat and were down 3-0 at the end of the first period.

They rallied in the second period for a 4-4 tie.

Forward Lukas Craggs, who scored a goal, said he believes the Phantoms will be fine, and that a mix of first game jitters and getting used to each other played a role.

“It was the first game so there was a lot of emotion,” Craggs said. “We got the jitters out and started rolling after the first period.

“Our team has a lot of potential and once we figure it out, we will be dangerous,” Craggs said. “It’s going to be a fun season.”

Craggs is one of 10 players back from last season’s team that won the USHL’s Anderson Cup for being the best team in the regular season. That squad went 40-14-6.

In the season opener, Team USA wasted little time, scoring its first goal a little more than a minute into the game. Then the Nationals didn’t let their foot off the accelerator as the lead grew to three.

Many stunned teams would have struggled to get their feet back underneath them, but the Phantoms showed mental toughness.

“It’s always tough to come back from a 3-0 lead,” John Wroblewski said after his debut as Phantoms head coach. “Our team showed great resolve, and I am extremely pleased with their effort.

“We could have gone into a shell down 3-0.”

The Phantoms came out ready in the second period, and got an early goal from Kevin Conley. This was followed up a few minutes later with a goal from Craggs, off a beautiful assist from Garrett Hall. Hall passed the puck right on point to Craggs as he was going to the net.

Team USA responded with a goal from Kieffer Bellows for a 4-2 lead.

The Phantoms jumped back into the game with two goals in 27 seconds for a 4-4 tie. First-year Phantoms Grant Meyer and Cameron Morrison scored the goals

“It was good to get my first goal,” Morrison said. “I was able to get some confidence under my belt.”

The Phantoms had all the momentum going into the third period. But it was wiped out by a power-play goal by Team USA’s Joey Anderson for a 5-4 lead with 12:25 remaining.

The Phantoms kept coming back with a barrage of shots, but all were turned aside by Team USA goaltender Jake Oettinger.

The empty-net goal came with 1:02 remaining.

Wroblewski said that his team took some bad penalties and thinks the players need to do better controlling themselves. Then he added that fighting back was the biggest takeaway from this game.