Apap’s shorthanded goal helps Phantoms extend postseason

April 22, 2017 at 12:10a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

With their backs against the plexiglass and minus their leading scorer, the Youngstown Phantoms responded with some unusual scoring to keep their postseason alive.

Michael Karow and Brandon Estes — the Phantoms’ top defensive pairing — scored goals while Tommy Apap stung the Chicago Steel with a shorthanded tally in Friday’s 4-1 victory at the Covelli Centre.

Marshall Moise scored the game-winning goal as the Phantoms won Game 3 of the best-of-five Clark Cup series to force another game tonight at the Covelli Centre. Chicago leads the series, 2-1.

“When you have success, you can’t rely on one guy,” Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson said. “There’s a ton of energy on that bench when somebody contributes who maybe doesn’t get on the scoresheet all that much.”

The Phantoms were without Nicolas Werbik who was serving a one-game suspension.

With the score tied 1-1 early in the second period, Moise and Apap scored in a span of 3:13, allowing the Phantoms to seize control.

“Huge,” said Moise of the win. “We’re very excited to be playing another game.”

Max Ellis assisted on the go-ahead goal.

“Max had good pressure on the [defenseman] and he fumbled it,” Moise said. “I just took it in.”

Apap called Moise’s goal “enormous. He just dangled the guy and that was huge for us.”

With Alex Esposito in the penalty box moments later, Apap delivered a dagger set up by defenseman Jake Gingell.

“Any goal really stings,” said Patterson, adding that his penalty killers excelled killing off three power plays. “We had three or four shot blocks early that really gave us some momentum.”

Apap said Austin Pooley ignited the play.

“He made a huge play at the blue line and then [Gingell] driving the net — both really created that play,” Apap said.

In the faceoff circle, Apap snapped the puck past Steel goaltender Ales Stezka for a 3-1 lead.

Karow opened the scoring with a very unusual goal. Stezka stopped the shot, but the puck bounced high, came down on the goaltender’s back and then bounced into the net.

“I just kind of threw it at the net,” Karow said. “I honestly did not see much — I saw [the puck] hit him and then it disappeared. Pierce Crawford was behind the net and he put his hands up.”

Apap said getting the lead made a big difference compared to last weekend’s losses in Illinois (4-1, 6-0).

“He made a huge play to not only keep it in the zone but to put it on net when the goalie wasn’t expecting it — really a heads-up play,” the Phantoms captain said.

Estes’ goal seven minutes into the third period sealed the victory. Karow’s defensive partner fired the puck from the blue line through traffic into the net.

“Estes had one of the hardest shots I’ve seen all year,” Apap said.

Phantoms goaltender Ivan Kulbakov made 23 saves, one game after he was lifted after four goals.

“We limited their shots, but they still had some Grade A looks,” Patterson said.

The Steel took 11 shots in the first two periods, then 13 in the final 20 minutes.

“That’s probably a tougher game to play, when you don’t see the puck all that much,” Patterson said. “Key stops at key times — that’s Ivan Kulbakov.”