Phantoms blanked, down 2-0 in series

Staff report

GENEVA, ILL.

The Youngstown Phantoms’ Clark Cup aspirations are on the ropes following Saturday’s 6-0 loss to the Chicago Steel at the Fox Valley Ice Arena.

The Steel have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series that returns to Youngstown’s Covelli Centre for Game 3 on Friday. If the Phantoms win, Game 4 will be Saturday.

Chicago goaltender Ales Stezka stopped all 40 shots the Phantoms fired at him.

The Steel inflicted the most damage with their power play, scoring on four of seven opportunities.

In the first period, Reggie Lutz scored two power-play goals within two minutes. With Phantoms defenseman Dominic Dockery watching from the penalty box for a cross-checking infraction, Lutz made it 1-0 at the 6:05 mark with assists from Graham Lillibridge and Jake Jaremko.

Nine seconds after Evan Wisocky was whistled for high-sticking at the 7:47 mark, the Steel power play scored again. This time, Lutz was assisted by Lillibridge and Jack Badini.

The damage could have been worse as Phantoms forward Nicolas Werbik was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for spearing while on a power play.

The Phantoms’ penalty killers skated off the final 4:34 of Werbik’s penalty.

The backbreaking goal was scored 16 seconds into the second period when Badini netted a short-handed goal.

Britt League relieved Phantoms goaltender Ivan Kulbakov after the Steel’s fourth goal.

The Steel’s penalty killers foiled five power-play attempts.