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Kulbakov endures crash as Phantoms win another shootout
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
Moments after Sioux Falls forward Jack Doremus crashed into Phantoms goaltender Ivan Kulbakov, the Covelli Centre became library quiet.
At first, the Phantoms’ most-valuable player remained still on his back. Eventually, he got back on his skates and gingerly moved to the corner to shake off cobwebs and aches.
Soon, he was back in the net, backstopping the Phantoms to their second straight shootout victory, 4-3.
The victory was far from easy as the Phantoms (21-12-5, 47 points) surrendered two goals in the final 2:24 of the third period to create overtime.
In the five-round shootout, Kulbakov stopped all but one Stampede shot. Alex Esposito ended the game with a shot over Sioux Falls goaltender Jeremy Swayman’s right goalpad.
“He’s been amazing all year and we let him down late in the third,” said Esposito of Kulbakov (17-8-5). “So it feels good we got that [extra] point.”
Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson expects Kulbakov will be ready to go tonight when the teams meet again. That’s good news for the home team since backup goalie Britt League is recovering from an injury and the current backup Nathan Reid is on emergency loan to the team.
The game was scoreless early in the third period when Doremus slammed into Kulbakov outside the goal crease. He was penalized for charging, which set up Coale Norris’ power-play goal 43 seconds later.
“I thought he was going hard to the net, but I didn’t think it was blatant,” Patterson said. “Ivan is a character, he’s tough and he’s going to battle through that.
“He’s a little bit dinged up but there [was] no question in my head that he wasn’t going to finish,” Patterson said.
Alec Malahak and Evan Wisocky assisted on Norris’ goal.
The Stampede ((15-17-4, 34 points) responded with their own power-play goal as Eric McAdams tied the game 97 seconds later.
Midway through the third period, the Phantoms scored twice within five minutes. Eric Esposito snapped the tie on an assist from Austin Pooley.
The lead grew to 3-1 when defenseman Steven Ruggiero pinched into the Stampede zone, took a pass from Werbik then sent it back to him with a blind backhand pass that Werbik stopped then fired past Swayman.
“I was trying to stay in front of the net and it came somewhere between my legs,” said Werbik who kicked the puck to his stick. “I just tried to shoot it upstairs and I was very happy it went in.”
Werbik admitted he scored on a play they don’t practice.
Patterson said Kulbakov wasn’t at fault on either of the late Stampede goals, saying Max Johnson’s tally came after a deflection or two.
And with the Stampede net empty, Patterson said the Phantoms were a little too focused on the open goal, allowing the Stampede to maintain pressure to set up Jack Becker’s tying goal.
In the shootout, Max Ellis scored on the Phantoms’ first attempt and Jason O’Neill beat Kulbakov on the Stampede’s third shot.
Kulbakov made 22 saves while Swayman stopped 29 shots.