TeamUSA Deals @YTownPhantoms a Season Opening Loss

Typically, the first game of the season provides a baseline for any team. It also provides the first opportunity for analysis, overreaction and growth.

This weekend's season-opening 4-2 loss to Team USA (6-1-0, 12 pts) was no exception.

Team USA doubled up the Phantoms - who are ranked #6 in USAHockey Magazine's opening USHL Power Rankings - for the second time in two weeks, their previous meeting resulting in a 6-3 loss at the USHL's Fall Classic East event Wednesday, Sept 17th.



The Phantoms and TeamUSA played a tight first period, resulting in a scoreless first and things were going well for both teams.

In the second, TeamUSA's Luke Kunin opened up the scoring late, beating Phantoms' goaltender Colin DeAugustine for his 14th career USHL goal and third of the weekend.

Shortly after that, TeamUSA's Jack Roslovic would go off for cross-checking. It took the Phantoms' power play unit 19 seconds to set up Kyle Connor's drive to the net and subsequent goal at 19:23 of the third period. The goal was Connor's 49th career USHL goal, 9th on the power play.

The period would end knotted at one.

The third and deciding period saw consecutive TeamUSA goals from Christian Fischer and Nick Boka. Fischer's 13th career goal coming at 7:27, Boka's 5th at 10:32.

St. Louis Blues draftee Maxim Letunov would temporarily stop the bleeding at 13:34, netting his first of the season and 20th career USHL tally. That closed the gap for the Phantoms with plenty of time to play.

Matthew Tkachuk, the son of long-time NHLer Keith Tkachuk, would all but finish off the Phantoms with his 20th USHL goal, an unassisted goal, with just under 3 minutes to play.

After the game, head coach Anthony Noreen told YoungstownPhantoms.com "I felt the difference was TeamUSA buried their Grade A chances and we didn't. Aside from that, I thought it was a well-played game by our guys."

The Phantoms will return to Ann Arbor this weekend to take on the TeamUSA U-17 team (0-3-0, 0 pts) on Friday at 7:00 PM. Saturday, the team will make the 5 1/2 hour trip to Bloomington, IL to take on the Thunder (1-0-0, 2 pts).

Listen to both games on SportsRadio 1240AM in Youngstown or at their website. Or you can watch on FASTHockey.com.

Click here to take advantage of this awesome deal. See you at the games.