Win keeps Phantoms’ playoff hopes alive
Shorthanded goal lifts Youngstown
Staff report
ANN ARBOR, MICH.
The Youngstown Phantoms’ faint hopes to return to the USHL playoffs remain alive after Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Team USA’s 18-under team at the Ice Cube.
The Phantoms, who were facing elimination from the playoff race if they lost in regulation, put together one of their best performances of the season.
Michigan native Noah Lalonde scored a shorthanded goal in the final minutes to propel Youngstown to victory.
“There’s no words to describe how good that felt honestly,” Lalonde said. “It’s just great to help the team get a win, especially playing so close to my hometown.”
The Phantoms (26-20-4-5, 61 points) are nine points behind the fourth-place Bloomington Thunder (33-18-3-1, 70) in the race for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have five games remaining. Four of the Phantoms’ games will be at the Covelli Centre.
The Thunder’s magic number to clinch a playoff berth is two (points earned by the Thunder or lost by the Phantoms).
The Phantoms and Nationals played the first 20 minutes scoreless, despite a handful of quality chances for each club. By the game’s halfway point, the score was 1-1.
The Phantoms drew first blood on the power play when Chase Pearson deflected a Yushiroh Hirano shot past USA netminder Joseph Woll for his 10th goal of the year.
Team USA responded a few minutes later when Clayton Keller snuck a one-timer under the arm of Phantoms goaltender Ryan Bednard.
With about eight minutes remaining in regulation, Phantoms forward James Winkler was assessed a five-minute-major for checking from behind.
During Team USA’s power pay, Lalonde made an excellent individual effort, stealing the puck in the neutral zone and burying a shorthanded goal up over the shoulder of Woll.
Bednard turned aside 31 of 32 USA shot attempts to earn his second win in as many days. Saturday, the Phantoms defeated the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 4-3, in a shootout to snap a four-game losing streak.