Published: Sunday, December 3, 2006
Phantoms win 14th in a row
Mahoning Valley's 4-1 victory over the USA National team was its 20th.
By GREG GULAS
BOARDMAN – The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are the top scoring team in the North American Hockey League this season.
Their defense isn't bad either.
Goals by Derek Graham, Dustin Cloutier, Matt Quigley and Trent Bonnett, and 27 saves from Ryan Zapolski helped the Phantoms to a 4-1 victory over the USA National team at the Ice Zone Saturday.
The win was the 14th in a row for the Phantoms (20-7-1) as they opened up a four-point lead over Alpena for first place in the North Division.
It was also their eighth consecutive win at home and the fifth in as many outings against the Nationals.
"It was like deja-vu for us today. There wasn't much time between games for either team so you have to be on guard for anything," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said.
"I can not say enough about our overall play this weekend. The defense did an excellent job, the offense was in sync and both areas did the little things that mean so much when you are winning.
"With Alpena coming here next weekend, we could not have asked for a better story line. We just need a strong week of practice in order to be at the top of our game for the Ice Diggers."
Derek Graham, who scored the first goal in Friday's contest, was at it once again as he tallied the initial score just 1:16 into the game to give the Phantoms the only goal in the first period.
Three unanswered goals
Colin Reddin's goal just 57 seconds into the second stanza knotted the score, but three unanswered goals by the Phantoms, the first an unassisted score by Cloutier at 3:33 which proved to be the game winner, his team-leading fifth of the year to send the Nationals (9-14-1) to a seventh defeat in their last eight outings.
Quigley (9:46) and Bonnett (10:13) added their scores just 27 seconds apart in the period. Cloutier's four goals this weekend ties him with Quigley for the team lead with 15.
"It was a very nice weekend for us. I was just glad to be able to help us out," Cloutier said.
"With Alpena coming to town, we realize the importance of the series but need to just stay focused and take them one game at a time. We need to stay with the basics, come out strong and finish strong and in between play a full 60 minutes at both ends of the ice. If we do that, then it should be an excellent series."
Goal defies traffic
Quigley's goal found its way through plenty of traffic and sneaked right by the outstretched glove of National goalie Mike Maricic.
"Credit [Mike] Fillinger with helping me get that score. He did a great job of backing off the defense and it enabled me to get off a quick shot, which just happened to sail above the outstretched glove of their goalie," Quigley said.
The Phantoms held a 36-28 shot advantage as Zapolski earned his 19th win of the year (19-5-1).
The Phantoms will entertain Alpena Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Ice Zone.
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