Phantoms deliver strongest performance of season

January 16, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms delivered their strongest performance of the season against the hottest USHL team.

James Winkler and Chase Pearson scored third-period goals to lift the Phantoms to a 4-1 victory over the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday night at the Covelli Centre.

“Best game, for sure,” Phantoms head coach John Wroblewski said after his team limited the Fighting Saints (22-10-0, 44 points) to 20 shots on goal and foiled three of four power-play chances. “The forwards were the engine for us tonight — they went out and set the pace.”

As for the defensemen, Wroblewski said,” Each of them played a strong game. That team puts you to the test on every shift.”

Goaltender Colin DeAugustine (6-6-3) stopped 19 shots

“When we start to bend a bit, DeAug is always back there for us,” defenseman Vas Kolias said. “He was a brick wall, there’s no other way to put it. He was incredible tonight.”

DeAugustine received a couple of boosts from his back line. In the second period with the scored tied 1-1 and the Saints on the power play, the puck trickled into the goal crease and Kolias backhanded it out of danger.

“That’s all impulse,” Kolias said. “When it’s that close to your net, the only thing you’re thinking is, ‘Let’s get it out of here.’ I was fortunate to get my stick on it.”

Early in the third period, the Saints were swarming around the Phantoms net when Ryan Shea blocked a shot to prevent a goal.

“Ryan Shea came up with a huge play to get in front of that shot,” Wroblewski said. “It took a lot of courage for him to stick his face in front of it with all he’s been through.”

Shea has suffered two broken collarbones.

The Phantoms (15-10-8, 38 points) dominated the first period, outshooting the Saints 11-3. Matt Alvaro scored the first goal on assists from Luke McInnis and Connor Moore.

Whatever momentum the Phantoms had evaporated seconds into the second period when Lukas Craggs was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for checking Evan Smith from behind. A league review of the hit could have Craggs sitting out tonight’s rematch.

The only goal the Saints produced came on the five-minuter power play. The Phantoms skated off 60 percent of it when Keegan Ford’s shot from near the blue line eluded DeAugustine.

About a minute after Shea’s big block, Winkler broke the tie with a blast from the top of the faceoff circle that beat Saints goaltender Hunter Miska.

“My centerman, Tommy Apap, made a great pass,” said Winkler who picked up the puck off the boards near center ice and skated untouched into the Saints’ zone. “He chipped it off the wall to me and I was home free.

“I think their defenseman thought I was going to pass it over to [Garrett Hall],” Winkler said. “It was great relief because lately I haven’t been scoring as much.

“It’s a big weight off of my shoulders.”

Four minutes later, Pearson’s power-play goal gave the Phantoms a two-goal lead.

In the final minutes with the Saints on the power play and Miska pulled, Noah Lalonde scored a shorthanded, empty-net goal.

Asked if the Phantoms were at their strongest, Kolias said, “Absolutely. [The Saints] are an offensive juggernaut. It was a complete team effort.

“They are going to come back strong [tonight],” Kolias said. “We love the win tonight, but we’re not satisfied.”