Phantoms goalie finally gets a break


March 5, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

Phantoms vs Lumberjacks

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Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Phantoms goaltender Ivan Kulbakov finally received a break. It wasn’t the one he wanted.

The Belarus native started his 21st consecutive game on Saturday. After the Muskegon Lumberjacks peppered him for three goals in 12:52 of action, Phantoms coach Brad Patterson gave his workhorse and the team’s most valuable player the rest of the night off in a 5-1 loss at the Covelli Centre.

Britt League played his first game since early January. League has been sidelined with a groin injury. He stopped 11 of 13 shots he faced.

The Lumberjacks (29-16-3-1, 62 points) vaulted over the Phantoms (28-16-4-1, 61 points) into third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. The top four teams in each conference qualify for the postseason which begins in six weeks.

Curtis Hall scored the Phantoms’ goal in the second period. He was assisted by Marshall Moise and Brandon Estes.

Keith Petruzzelli made 29 saves for the Lumberjacks.