Staff photo / Brian Yauger. Phantoms forward Mikey Burchill fires a shot on net during the second period of Tuesday’s game. Burchill scored in the waning minutes of regulation to knot the game up and force overtime.

YOUNGSTOWN — Playoffs are a war of attrition. Each goal may as well count double.

Looking to take a hold of the series, the Youngstown Phantoms battled with Dubuque to a 1-1 draw after 60 minutes.

A fifth period looked imminent, but the Fighting Saints broke the deadlock with 26 seconds left in overtime, to take down the Phantoms, 2-1.

“I thought our guys played a really good game,” Phantoms coach Ryan Ward said. “Obviously got a little unlucky there, but I thought the guys played hard. They did a great job tonight and that’s why it’s a five-game series. I don’t think there’s too much panic in our locker room, and we’re excited to get back at it tomorrow.”

Despite goals eluding both teams for much of the game, Tuesday’s contest had no shortage of action.

Both teams generated chances, high-danger chances at that, but each netminder had an answer for whatever the other threw at them.

Ottawa Senators prospect and Dubuque goaltender Kevin Reidler recorded 28 saves on 29 shots.

Youngstown’s Aiden Wright recorded 31 saves on 33 shots.

Pucks weren’t the only thing thrown around, as physicality reigned throughout the game. Heavy hits were dished out early and often, including a pair of high hits on forward Nathan Lewis that sent the 6-foot-6 forward to the locker room, but he returned soon after.

While few, when those penalties were called, however, Dubuque’s league-leading power play unit was able to capitalize.

With seven minutes remaining in the contest, Dubuque forward James Reeder scored the game’s first goal on a power play.

As the clock ticked away, the Phantoms were searching for an answer.

The message was simple.

“Just keep playing. I think for us, we just kept playing and we felt pretty confident with our game,” Ward said. “We felt like we were playing a really sound game, so it’s just kind of ‘Keep going’ and to be completely honest, we shouldn’t have even been in that situation to give up a goal. But anyway, I think we just wanted to keep playing a 60-minute game, and I thought our guys did a good job.”

That mentality was rewarded with a goal by forward Mikey Burchill, who was able to knot the game back up with his second goal of the playoffs.

As overtime was winding down, Noah Powell scored the finisher to push the Phantoms’ backs against the wall in the series, giving the Fighting Saints a 2-1 series lead.

They’ve already been pushed to the brink once this playoffs with Madison, and according to Ward, their backs have been against the wall all season.

This feeling is nothing new.

“We’ve had our backs against the wall all year. We’re at home tomorrow and like I said, it’s a five-game series for a reason,” Ward said. “For us, we’re just obviously going to come out and play our game. We’re at home and we’re comfortable here and excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

The potentially-decisive Game 4 is set for tonight at the Covelli Centre.

Have an interesting story? Contact Brian Yauger by email at byauger@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @_brianyauger.