Phantoms ice Aces

Staff report

BLOOMINGTON, ILL.

Brett Murray scored two goals in the third period and assisted another to lift the Youngstown Phantoms to a 3-0 victory against the Central Illinois Flying Aces Sunday night.

The Phantoms (24-18-1-3) have won two straight and remain in fourth place of the USHL’s Eastern Conference.

Murray broke the scoreless stalemate three minutes into the final period off assists from Ben Schoen and Jack Malone.

In the final six minutes of the contest, the Phantoms scored twice in under 30 seconds. Shortly after Youngstown won a faceoff in the Central Illinois’ zone, Murray found a open Jack Malone in front of Flying Ace’s goalie Mitchell Gibson. Malone went stick side to beat Gibson. Murray later got control of the puck along the right boards, skating inside the right circle before sniping the puck past Gibson stick side.

Murray moved a point ahead of the Chicago Steel’s Nick Abruzzese as the USHL’s leading scorer. Murray has 32 goals and 29 assists.

Chad Veltri made 24 saves to clinch a shutout. The two teams split just four penalties.

The Phantoms return to the Covelli Centre on Saturday to face the Muskegon Lumberjacks at 7:05 p.m.