Phantoms fall in shootout

GREEN BAY, WIS. — The Youngstown Phantoms scored three first-period goals, but wound up falling to the Green Bay Gamblers, 5-4, in a shootout Friday night at Resch Center.

The Phantoms forced overtime on a goal by Matt Alvaro with 1:22 to play, but Green Bay eventually won the shootout.

The Phantoms led 3-2 after one period on goals by Matt Miller, Lukas Craggs and Chase Pearson, but the Gamblers' Chris Grando scored on a power play in the second to tie it.

Green Bay took a 4-3 lead with five minutes to play in regulation when Gordi Myer snuck a rebound past Phantoms goaltender Ryan Bednard. Bednard made the initial save on Gamblers forward Sam Saliba, but Myer was able to put home the rebound after crashing the net.

Green Bay's first-period goals were supplied by twins Jack and Nick Poehling. The latter scored on a power play.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted tonight, but our resilience showed at the end when we battled back to get the point and force overtime,” Pearson said. “We have a great group of guys in our locker room.”

Miller opened the scoring when he beat Gamblers goaltender Kevin Reich just 73 seconds into the contest.

“I loved the guys performance tonight," said Phantoms head doach John Wroblewski. "I thought they were very resilient. We have to make sure to carry that mindset again tomorrow evening,”

The Phantoms will remain in Wisconsin today. They'll visit the Madison Capitols Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 8:05 p.m. at Alliant Energy Center.