Thursday, March 28, 2019
Big second period launches Team USA past the Phantoms
By Dan Hiner
Youngstown
A big second period by the Team USA 18Us doomed the Youngstown Phantoms.
Team USA scored three goals to beat the Phantoms 6-2 on Wednesday morning at the Covelli Centre during a School Day game.
Sean Farrell scored two goals in the breakout period.
Farrell gave Team USA a 2-1 lead with 16:29 left in the second. His shot was partially blocked by Phantoms goalie Christian Stoever, but the puck slowly slide across the line into the glove-side corner of the net.
Farrell scored his second of the game in the final minute of the second. Moynihan was credited with the assist.
Matt Beniers also scored in the second off assists by Cam York and Patrick Moynihan for Team USA (28-18-2-5 65 points).
“That’s what you expect from [the Team USA 18Us],” Phantoms head coach Brad Patterson said. “They’re probably the most accomplished team they’ve had.”
Trevor Zegras scored twice for Team USA and Matthew Boldy also scored in the final minute of the game.
Youngstown (31-19-1-4, 67 points) struck first when Jayson Dobay scored his second goal of the season on a cross pass from Matt DelMelis lead with 8:45 left in the first. Nikolai Jenson also scored for the Phantoms in the third period. The Phantoms have dropped to fourth place of the USHL’s Eastern Conference after the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders beat the Chicago Steel, 1-0, in overtime Wednesday night.
The Phantoms struggled on the power play all day. They were 0 for 4 with the man advantage.
Farrell’s second goal was short-handed following a high sticking penalty by Henry Thrun flailed his stick.
The loss snapped the Phantoms’ seven-game win streak and their 10-game point streak. They hadn’t lost in regulation since falling to Des Moines 5-2 on Feb. 22.
Stoever stopped 26 of 32 shots against him while Cameron Rowe made 17 saves on 19 shot attempts.
Trevor Zegras tied it 10 seconds later on a wrist shot from the left of the slot. He squeezed his shot between Phantoms goalie Christian Stoever’s right arm and the post.
Almost Got the Record
The Phantoms appeared to open the scoring with 11 minutes left in the first period.
Brett Murray scored on a rebound from MacEachern, but the referees waived off the goal, ruling that Murray kicked the puck past Rowe.
The goal would have been Murray’s 38th this season, moving him past Sam Anas for the most by a Phantom in a single season.
In the second, Murray deflected a shot from Craig Needham, but it bounced off the post and in front of Rowe.
Milestone Watch
The Phantoms still sit at 298 wins and Patterson has 98.
“Well, you guys would know about that more than I will,” Patterson said.
For Youngstown to reach the milestones during the regular season, they will more than likely have to beat Team USA. Five of their final seven regular-season games will be against a Team USA squad — two against the 18Us.