Kuntar lifts Phantoms to OT win

Published January 28, 2019 at 12:00 a.m.
Updated January 28, 2019 at 12:53 a.m.

Staff report

OMAHA, NEB.

Trevor Kuntar’s goal with 43 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the Youngstown Phantoms to Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the Omaha Lancers at Ralston Arena.

Craig Needham and Jayson Dobay assisted on the game-winning goal, Kuntar’s 10th of the season.

Trailing 2-1 with 43 seconds remaining, Matthew DeMelis tied the game with a power-play goal set up by Joey Abate and Dobay.

The Phantoms’ swept the Lancers, winning Saturday’s game 4-3 in a shootout. The road trip, the farthest of the season, began Friday with a 7-3 loss to the Tri-City Storm in Kearney, Neb.

The win lifts the Phantoms (18-15-1-3, 40 points) into a tie for third place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The top six teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, but only the top four teams get home games.

Liam Robertson’s second-period goal tied the game at 1-1. Kuntar and Jack Malone had the assists.

Goaltender Chad Veltri stopped 22 shots to earn the victory. Akira Schmid made 23 saves for the Lancers (11-19-2-4, 28 points).