Youngstown Phantoms defeat Cedar Rapids 4-1 in outdoor game in Cleveland
In a game played just a few hundred feet from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Youngstown Phantoms (24-13-4-1, 53 points) put on a virtuoso performance Thursday night at FirstEnergy Stadium, downing the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 4-1 at the USHL Cleveland Classic.
“I thought it was an unbelievable experience,” said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. “We’re happy to win the game, but the experience and the hospitality from the Cleveland Browns, and obviously (assistant coach) Brandon Dennis and our organization putting this on for our players, is something we’ll all remember forever.”
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders jumped to an early lead
Cedar Rapids opened the scoring just past the halfway mark of the first period. Just after Youngstown killed off their first penalty of the game, the puck stayed in the Phantoms’ zone and found its way to the stick of Martin Lavins, whose one-timer from the left circle beat Jacob Fowler (18 saves) at 10:18 for a 1-0 RoughRiders lead.
How the Youngstown Phantoms fought back
Youngstown found an equalizer just before the horn sounded to end the opening stanza. Andon Cerbone converted on a breakaway at 19:43 for his 17th goal of the season, knotting things up at 1-1. Cerbone sneaked behind the defense and took a perfect pass from Kenta Isogai, finishing off his break by snapping a wrister high to the blocker side of Bruno Bruveris (18 saves).
The Phantoms grabbed the lead early in the second period and never looked back. Martin Misiak fired a wrister from the high slot past Bruveris at 5:03 to put Youngstown ahead with the second goal of his USHL career.
Chase Pietila tacked on a power play goal at 15:01, extending the Phantoms’ lead with his sixth goal of the campaign, snapping a wrist show from the left circle behind a screened Bruveris.
Youngstown capped off the scoring with another Isogai-Cerbone connection, the second coming shorthanded at 9:53 of the third. Just as Youngstown went a man down after a RoughRider left the box during some 4-on-4 action. Isogai forced his way down the right-wing side of the Cedar Rapids zone.
With one hand on his stick, Isogai muscled a cross-crease feed to Cerbone, who tapped it in for a shorthanded goal.
Cerbone has 91 points in his USHL career and extended his scoring streak to eight games.
“‘Bones’ has been a huge catalyst for our team since we acquired him. He’s an unbelievable kid,” said Ward. “He’s driving our offense. He plays 200 feet. When you’re trying to win a championship, you need guys like Andon, he’s done a fabulous job.”
The Phantoms and RoughRiders head back to the Covelli Centre for the final two games of the series Friday and Saturday night, with puck drop on both nights at 7:05pm.
By the numbers for the Phantoms
Shots – 22
Saves – 18
Power Play – 1/6
Penalty Kill – 5/5
Goals – Cerbone (2), Misiak, Pietila
Assists – Machu, Funtek, Isogai (2), Lachance, Misiak, Strathmann, Varner
Box Score - https://ushl.com/ht/#/game-summary/10589