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Huge second period fuels Phantoms’ win

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Phantoms pulled off their largest victory of the season Saturday with a 6-1 thrashing of the US National Development Program’s Under-17 team.

During the first period, however, it appeared a different outcome was happening. The lone goal scored in the opening period was by defenseman Marshall Warren of Team USA. The Phantoms ended the first period with an onslaught of shots, setting the tone for the next two periods.

“Once we got going, I thought we were pretty good,” Phantoms coach Brad Patterson said. “In the first period I thought the decision making part of our game wasn’t great, I thought we tried to get a little bit too cute in our end. We didn’t go north enough with the puck, and when you do that, you have a tendency to turn the puck over. The message to the team going into the second period was to simplify.”

When the second period kicked off, the Phantoms stomped on the gas and didn’t let up. Youngstown scored five goals by five different players. Eric Esposito, Mike Regush, Nicholas Cardelli, Chase Gresock, and Max Ellis all scored goals throughout the period.

“At this time of the year it’s not the guys who get a 100 points that score those clutch goals,” Patterson said. “From my career and watching the NHL, the really special playoff runs are the ones where guys come out of the woodwork and score for you. On a nightly basis we get different contributors and that’s been a driving force for us.”

Esposito sank another in the third to finish off the scoring for the game, netting his 17th goal of the year.

“(Esposito) has been a big piece for us this year,” Patterson said. “I always talk about energy, and Eric’s got it. At this level, that can lead to really good things. He’s also got a sneaky release on his shot and he’s got a nose for the net. He knows how to get there, and he’s not afraid to take a beating while he’s on his way.”

Defense helped cover up a few early offensive deficiencies for the Phantoms, with goalie Ivan Prosvetov and defenseman Jake Gingell making some key stops. Gingell dove in the crease saving a puck that beat Prosvetov to keep the early lead for Team USA at 1-0.

“Jake has been a rock for us all year, playing through injuries, and he’s been as steady for us as he was last year,” Patterson said. “There’s a reason why he has a letter on his shoulder, he leads by example. In practice he’s one of the hardest workers. The first guy to knock you on your butt, he’ll stir things up so guys get angry and knock him on his butt. That makes us better, makes guys individually better, to have a presence on the back end like that is really big for us.”

Prosvetov made 31 saves on 32 shots for the night — a performance that is no stranger to him. Prosvetov is posting a .914 save percentage on the season, good enough for second in the Eastern Conference.

The Phantoms have four remaining games in the regular season before the playoffs begin. Youngstown squares off next against the defending champion Chicago Steel with a two-game home series.

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