Phantoms sweep Capitols to remain in chase

March 6, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

By Steve wilaj

youngstown

Considering where the Youngstown Phantoms sit in the USHL’s Eastern Conference playoff race, they couldn’t afford to lose either game of this weekend’s visit by the Madison Capitols.

Conveniently for them, they didn’t.

With a 4-1 win against the Capitols at the Covelli Centre on Saturday, Youngstown (24-16-9) swept Madison and kept pace as it continues to try to chase down Bloomington for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.

The Phantoms, who have just 11 regular-season games remaining, are in fifth place. Bloomington (fourth place) lost on Saturday and holds a five-point lead on Youngstown (62-57). The top four teams in the conference qualify for the postseason.

“I think a loss this weekend would have really put us behind the eight ball,” said Phantoms coach John Wroblewski, whose team travels to Bloomington for two games next weekend. “But we’re in a position now where we hopefully have some confidence and can jump over to Bloomington and take care of business.”

The Phantoms jumped ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute of the first period when Cameron Morrison found the back of the net. It marked his 27th goal of the season and came on an assists from Chase Pearson and Matt Miller.

“We definitely needed one early to get the momentum in our way,” Morrison said. “It was nice to get a lead out there and play in front.”

Madison’s Luke McElhenie knotted the contest with a goal with 7:32 to go in the second period.

But Youngstown answered back when Luke McInnis put the Phantoms back ahead, 2-1, on his fifth goal of the season with just 29.7 seconds remaining in the second period. Jason Cotton picked up the assist.

Lukas Craggs’ unassisted goal gave Youngstown insurance, as he found the back of the net in the sixth minute of the third period. It was his 10th goal of the season.

The Phantoms added one more in the 17th minute when Matt Alvaro notched his eighth goal with the Capitols’ net empty.

Ryan Bednard was strong in Youngstown’s goal, collecting 31 saves.

“There was a couple in the second period that got a little squirrely there, but, to his credit, it was the first time he’s rolled back-to-back and we won the game,” Wroblewski said of Bednard, who notched 21 saves on Friday. “That’s a hurdle this team hasn’t been able to get over the entire season, so kudos to Bedzy on that and hopefully this is a sign of things to come.”

“I think the biggest thing is we have to keep working from our net, out,” Wroblewski said. “I think we’re a team that can score — we’ve been known to put up some big numbers offensively — but it’s usually a gradual effect that turns out those big offensive outputs.”

Youngstown defeated Madison, 2-1, on Friday. The Phantoms hit the road for six straight games before returning home on March 26.

“It was definitely a big weekend for us,” Morrison said. “We needed the four points here. Especially coming in crunch time in the playoff race.”