The Youngstown Phantoms rushed out of the gate to a 4-1 record this season.  Unfortunately, the injury bug has already sunk it’s piercing teeth into the depth chart of the Phantoms who have lost their last three games with a shortened bench.  The Phantoms looked to be getting reacquainted and played sloppy hockey for the first period, which was enough to cost them this game, bowing 2-0 to Green Bay.

Green Bay opened the scoring 8:18 into the first period.  Alex Broadhurst connected from just inside the right face off circle to beat Matthew O’Connor.  Broadhurst was assisted on his second goal of the season by Nolan LaPorte and Sam Herr.

Only 1:10 later, Green Bay made it 2-0 when Travis Lynch scored his second of the season.  Lynch took a pass from Grant Arnold and promptly flipped the puck over O’Connor’s right shoulder (below) to put the Phantoms into a big hole early.

Neither team would score in the second or third periods.  Both goaltenders played very solid games.  O’Connor finished with 42 saves for the Phantoms.  Ryan McKay faced less shots (28) but stopped all of them to earn his first shutout of the season.  McKay made some great saves, but also received a couple of lucky bounces.  The Phantoms hit the post four times, three  times within one minor penalty toward the end of the second period.

After the game, Phantoms Coach Curt Carr talked about the rough results.  “I thought we came out a little flat and I think that we are going through some growing pains right now.  I still like the way we battle and when we play our style of hockey, we are pretty good.”

The Phantoms (4-5) welcome in the Des Moines Buccaneers for a Saturday night game at The Covelli Centre. The puck drops at 7:30, catch some good hockey Youngstown!