USHL Phantoms are still searching for win at Covelli; Storm on top, 3-1

Youngstown coach Bob Mainhardt said his squad showed a better effort than in Friday’s defeat.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR correspondent

YOUNGSTOWN — In making his first Tier I appearance, all Tri-City goalie Steven Bolton wanted to do was work the butterflies out of his stomach as fast as he could, then settle in between the pipes with the hopes of contributing.

Memorable it was as he rejected all but one of Youngstown’s 32 shots to help the Storm to a 3-1 victory Saturday over the Phantoms in USHL action at the Covelli Centre.

“It feels great to get the monkey off my back, but more so because we got a win,” Bolton said. “Taking the early lead was big while our defense kept pressure on them [Youngstown] all night and made it easy for me at times.”

The Phantoms, 2-4-1 (5 points) remain winless in three home outings. While head coach Bob Mainhardt is still looking for a 60-minute effort from his squad, he was encouraged by their play in the final period.

“Our effort was better tonight but we’re still trying to figure some things out,” Minhardt said. “We played much better in the third period and we’ll take those positives with us as we head back on the road this weekend.”

Next weekend, Youngstown travels to Fargo, N.D., for a two-game series with the Force.

Tri-City got on the board first when Maxwell Tardy registered his second power-play goal in as many nights.

The goal, his fourth of the season, came at 5:47 of the opening period and was the result of an errant pass that was deflected off a Youngstown skate. His wrist shot eluded the outstretched glove of Phantoms goalie Jordan Tibbett.

Youngstown knotted the game at a goal apiece when Adam Berkle’s shot snuck between the pipes and Bolton, who faced just five shots in the opening frame.

The Storm, 5-1-1 (11 points) regained the lead 20 seconds into the second period when Radoslav Illo scored his team-leading sixth goal and his second in as many nights.

Brett Moehler slammed home his third goal of the year and weekend at 7:50 for a 3-1 lead.

“We’re certainly happy with a sweep,” Storm head coach Drew Schoneck said. “You go on the road hoping for a split but after you win the first game of the series, your focus changes.

“I thought that Steven [Bolton] handled himself well in goal and while he was a little tense at the outset, he had the confidence when he needed it most in the all-important third period,” Schoneck said.