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Phantoms rally for 6th win in 7 games

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Staff report

GENEVA, ILL.

The Youngstown Phantoms scored two third-period goals to defeat the Chicago Steel, 4-3, on Friday at the Fox Valley Arena.

The victory is the Phantoms’ sixth in seven games.

Defenseman Aiden Gallacher scored the game-winning goal with 4:22 remaining. Jeppe Urup and Brett Murray had assists.

The Phantoms (28-18-1-4, 61 points) are now one point behind the second-place Steel (39-19-2-0, 62) in the USHL’s Eastern Conference. Fourth-place Cedar Rapids is a point behind Youngstown.

The Phantoms and Steel were tied 2-2 after two periods. Nick Abruzzese put the Steel ahead 3-2 with his 24th goal with 16:18 to play.

Seven minutes later, Jack Malone’s 18th goal tied the game. Matthew Barnaby assisted with a long pass to set up Malone on a breakaway.

Malone and Craig Needham scored the Phantoms’ other goals.

Goaltender Chad Veltri made 26 saves for the Phantoms, who will play the Madison Capitols (12-30-4-2, 30) tonight and Sunday afternoon in Wisconsin.

Friday, the Phantoms announced that forward Dalton Messina has committed to play for Ohio State University.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder joined the Phantoms in January 2018 in a trade with Cedar Rapids.

Messina has played 66 regular-season and 11 playoff games with the Phantoms.

This season, he has scored six goals and 14 assists to go with 80 penalty minutes in 45 regular-season games.