The Youngstown Phantoms (21-28-5,47pts) were forced to kill of seven penalties and they gave up three power play goals during their 4-1 loss to the Omaha Lancers (31-1807,69pts) on Saturday night. Quinn Smith scored the lone goal for the Phantoms. After coming off of a tough one goal loss last night, the Phantoms wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first period against the Lancers. Off on an offensive zone faceoff, the puck was won back by Stu Higgins and then was fired past Todd Matthews by Smith to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead. Jordan Tibbett stopped a number of Lancer chances on net as he did not allow a goal on nine shots. Neither team could capitalize on the man advantage in the first, but the Lancers would go into the second with 1:15 left on a minor to Scott Mayfield. The Phantoms were unable to kill of the minor penalty Mayfield as the Lancers tied the game at one just 1:13 into the middle frame. Stefan Demopoulos would find the back of the net on an Omaha rebound in front of the Phantoms crease. At 13:36, Nick Oddo was planted at the back post and he took a feed from Bryce Johnson to beat Tibbett on a one timer to give Omaha their second power play goal of the period. In that second period, the Phantoms were down a man three consecutive times, but they were able to kill off a 5-on-3 advantage for Omaha. Through two periods, the Lancers were 2 for 5 on the power play and they were outshooting the Phantoms 26 to 12. Through two periods, the Phantoms were only on the power play twice. "When you give a team like Omaha chances they will score," said Phantoms head coach Curtis Carr. "We killed off some of their opportunities but with Sinelli out and Higgins just getting back, the penalty kill forces us to use guys like Strang and Margonari more than we would like to. The guys killing penalties are relied on to score and when we are a man down they are on the ice even more." The Phantoms would put twelve shots on goal in the third period but Matthews was up to the challenge as he stopped every opportunity sent towards the Lancers goal. The Lancers would add two insurance goals late in the third to pick up the 4-1 victory. The first insurance goal came at 15:25 when Jonathan Liau took a pass from Johnson on a two-on-one that beat Tibbett. The second marker came on a Lancer power play when Ben Marshall put a one timer into the back of the net to give Omaha three power play goals on the night. The Phantoms were assessed 24 minutes of penalties compared to the six minutes assessed to the Lancers during the sixty minute contest. The Lancers were 3-for-7 with the man advantage and the Phantoms were 0-for-3. The Phantoms would be outshot 32-24 by Omaha. "Five on five it's a 1-1 game," said Carr. "Late in the game we were pushing for the goal to get back in the game and they took advantage with their two late goals. It is disappointing to lose four in a row but we have lost to some very good teams who are in contention in both playoff races." The Phantoms will now return home for a Friday night contest against Team USA. Friday's game will be the first game of a home-and-home series that will end the next night in Ann Arbor. The Phantoms have posted a 4-0-1 record against the National Development Program this season. "We have had success against the national team this season and we still fell feel good going into next weekend," said Carr. "At the start of the year our goal was to make the playoffs and go from there once the post season starts. With six games left, we still have the chance to accomplish our goal down the stretch run." Discounted tickets are available for groups of 15 or more people! Priority seating, video board and public address recognition and other special are just some of the benefits! 10 Phantoms Ticket Vouchers are available for just $90! Buy 10 tickets and use them for any remaining home game this season! Call the Phantoms office today at 330.747.7825 for more information or to make a reservation today! For a complete Phantoms schedule, visit www.youngstownphantoms.com. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its ninth season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2010-11. With over 230 players this season already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 18 NHL Entry Draft picks on League rosters, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com.
