YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Just seconds after the Youngstown Phantoms surrendered the go-ahead goal to the Muskegon Lumberjacks late in the third period, and still short a man, defenseman Mike Gunn began the rush.
From the left-side corner in his own end, he skated the puck up and dropped it for Mike Ambrosia at the face off dot just outside the Muskegon blue line. Ambrosia threw on the brakes just inside and passed it back to Gunn, now floating around the left circle.
The blue liner one-touched the puck through a pair of Lumberjack sticks but found one: Austin Cangelosi’s. The United States Hockey League’s leading short-handed goal-scorer did what he does best, tipping the rubber up and past Muskegon goaltender John Keeney to tie the game at 3-3 with just 3:05 left and force overtime.
The Phantoms (17-8-2, T-third East) went on to win 4-3 in the shootout with Sam Anas scoring the game-winner after getting Keeney to bite on a shot-fake and sneaking it in five-hole.
“I meant to pull it to the forehand but it slipped and slid in five-hole,” Anas said. “It worked out perfectly. It was great. This is a big turning point for us now.”
Richard Zehnal also scored and goaltender Matthew O’Connor made 19 saves and turned away all three Muskegon (9-12-2, seventh East) shootout attempts to give the Phantoms their league-best 10th win on home ice at the Covelli Centre. Cangelosi put the Phantoms up 1-0 just 1:54 into the game. Daniel Renouf skated the puck in from the right point and sent a pass across the crease for an easy tap-in for Cangelosi. Adam Chlapik tied it up at the 9:33 mark in the first when Rudy Sulmonte fed him in the slot and he smacked it past O’Connor.
Chlapik netted another one less than four minutes later to make it a 2-1 game heading into the second period.
The Phantoms peppered Keeney in the second throwing 13 shots his way thanks in part to four power plays. But the former Omaha Lancer blanked them to keep it a 2-1 game after 40 minutes.
“He was unbelievable,” Head Coach Anthony Noreen said. “He kept his team in the game and gave them a chance to win.”
Keeney continued to stonewall the Phantoms in the third, but his rebounds grew larger and at the 14:10 mark Zehnal capitalized after a tremendous individual effort from Anas. The Quinnipiac commit got the puck at center ice, deked around a fore-checker, went in 1-on-4 and despite that, got the shot on net. The rebound bounced into the slot and through all the congestion, Zehnal reached it and beat Keeney on the far post to knot it up.
“On the bench we talked about how [Keeney] leaves rebounds, especially if you go low,” Zehnal said. “I saw the puck and just tried to get it up and it went in.”
Cangelosi was boxed at the 15:57 mark for roughing and Eric Sweetman joined him 12 seconds later to give Muskegon a 5-on-3 advantage. Zehnal took a Ryan Bullock one-timer to the knee making it a de facto 5-on-2 and Travis Walsh beat O’Connor with a one-timer of his own seconds later to retake the lead.
Walsh’s power-play goal released Cangelosi from the penalty box, and the league’s most dangerous penalty killer needed only 19 seconds to make amends.
“I’ve never played with anyone with such a killer instinct on the penalty kill,” Anas said. “But I love it.”
Phantoms by the Numbers
39 – Shots
19 – Saves
87.5 percent – Penalty Kill (7-for-8)
2G-0A-2PT – Cangelosi
1G-0A-1PT – Zehnal
0G-1A-1PT – Ambrosia, Gunn, Renouf, Stenglein
Staying Hot
With a pair of goals Friday night Austin Cangelosi stretched his point-scoring streak to six games. He has three goals, nine assists and 12 points in that span.
Making History
With the second assist on Cangelosi’s game-tying goal, Mike Ambrosia is now the Phantoms’ all-time leader with 37 in his career.
Next on the Slate
The Phantoms and Lumberjacks face off again tomorrow night in the Covelli Centre. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. EST.
Cleveland Browns fans have one more chance to break out their gear and Pittsburgh Steelers fans can get a head start on celebrating the playoffs Friday night at the Covelli Centre. All fans wearing Browns or Steelers apparel will get a $4 dollar discount on purple level tickets and additionally, all students with a valid college I.D. will get 50 percent off purple level tickets.
Courtesy: Youngstown Phantoms
