Phantoms fall to force

February 26, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

Crone’s goal helps Fargo split weekend series

YOUNGSTOWN

Hank Crone’s second-period goal was the difference as the Fargo Force stopped the Youngstown Phantoms, 3-2 in a USHL, intra-conference clash Saturday night at Covelli Centre.

The win gave Fargo (27-15-3-1, 58 points) a season split with the Phantoms (27-15-4-1) as they improved to 15-6-2 on the road.

The Phantoms lost for the first time in three tries on their current seven-game homestand and fell to 12-8-2 on their home ice.

“It was a great game that went back and forth with a couple of bad bounces,” Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson said. “We played a more complete game though tonight and there was plenty of effort on both sides. We had our opportunities and I like how our guys competed in the third period.”

Patterson noted that his team must be ready to go every time out the rest of the way.

“Muskegon comes in next for a two-game weekend series and we must maintain our intensity,” he said. “Every game from here on out will have a playoff atmosphere to it and we must be ready.”

It took the Phantoms just 99 seconds to get on the board, taking the early advantage when Alex Esposito notched his 12th goal of the year on an unassisted breakaway from center ice.

“I saw the defense, took the pass and then poked it to the neutral zone,” Esposito said. “I got it to my backhand and the shot just got past the goalie.”

At 3:47, Fargo’s Jack Adams knotted the game at a goal apiece with his league-leading 27th tally, that coming when his shot deflected off of Youngstown goalie Ivan Kulbakov’s shin pad and into the net.

The Force took a 2-1 lead when Philip Alftberg found an open Christiano Versich, his goal with the man advantage coming at 8:48 of the period.

Fargo outshot Youngstown 12-6 in the opening frame.

The Phantoms cashed in on their second power play opportunity, tying the game at 2 on Max Ellis’ goal at the 4:24 mark.

“It was off a face-off in the offensive zone,” Ellis said. “Austin Pooley won it back to our defenseman, I took the shot and it found its way to the back of the net.”

The lead was short-lived, however, as Crone gave the Force the upper hand once again with his wrister at 7:25 for a 3-2 Fargo margin.

Crone’s goal proved to be the end of any more offense for both teams.

Fargo proved why it is tough to beat when leading after the first and second periods.

With Saturday’s win the Force remained perfect in 16 games while holding the lead after the first 20 minutes, moving to 18-0-1-1 when leading going to the final period.

Conversely, the Phantoms are still looking for that initial win when trailing after two periods, falling to 0-13-3 in 16 such games.

The Phantoms were outshot 25-23, but Youngstown held a 17-13 shot advantage over the final two periods.