Home blues continue as Phantoms fall to ‘Jacks

Petrillo’s goal forced bonus hockey

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Timely goals and a home victory continue to elude the struggling Youngstown Phantoms.

The Phantoms rallied for a late goal to force overtime Saturday at the Covelli Centre, but then lost to the Muskegon Lumberjacks, 3-2, in a shootout.

With 2:13 remaining, Andrew Petrillo scored his first goal of the season to tie the game at 2. Michael Joyaux and Gianfranco Cassaro assisted.

In the shootout, Phantoms forward Eriks Zohovs beat Lumberjacks goaltender Adam Brizgala on the first attempt.

Brizgala then stuffed shots by Curtis Hall and Matthew Barry.

Phantoms goaltender Wouter Peeters made a save against the Lumberjacks’ Mikael Hakkarainen but couldn’t stop Michael Graham and Emilio Pettersen from scoring.

The Phantoms (1-3-1-1, four points) are 0-3-0-1 in home games. They lost 2-1 to the Green Bay Gamblers on Friday.

The Phantoms are tied for sixth place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference with the Madison Capitols and Lumberjacks. After a scoreless first period, the Lumberjacks pounced for a 2-0 lead. Midway through the second period, Wyatt Bongiovanni scored on an assist from Matej Pekar.

Three minutes later, Egor Afanasyev scored. Bobby Kaiser and Blake Evennou assisted.

With 4:54 remaining in the second period, Hall scored his second goal of the season. Cassaro and Zach Metsa assisted.