Staff photo/ Brian Yauger Phantoms forward Brecken Smith prepares to put a shot on net in the team's victory over Green Bay. Smith would score what would become the game-sealing goal on that shot.

YOUNGSTOWN — Postseason is fast approaching, and the Youngstown Phantoms have already clinched, but you wouldn’t know by watching them.

The Phantoms treated Friday’s contest as if they were clawing for a playoff bid, and got two crucial points, dispatching the Green Bay Gamblers 4-2.

In the words of coach Ryan Ward: “That’s Youngstown Phantoms hockey.”

It’s been building in the locker room for a while now, and the Phantoms may have gotten the breakthrough they were looking for.

“I thought we were excellent,” Ward said. “The 60-minute effort, it’s been building for a while, we’ve been a little unlucky with some crazy stuff, but at the end of the day, Adam Pietila set the tone with that fight. Our guys from the drop of the puck were a determined group. I’m just proud to be their coach tonight, it was an awesome performance.”

Green Bay got on the board first with a textbook tic-tac-toe goal scored by Blake Bechen. Ryan Humphrey and Michael DeAngelo picked up helpers on the goal.

Phantoms defender Coleson Hanrahan then called his own number in the offensive zone, beating netminder Gavin Moffatt to get Youngstown on the scoresheet.

Both Hanrahan and forward Charlie Cerrato had open looks at the net, but the bruising blueliner showcased the offensive touch he’s been known for at the NCDC level with the P.A.L. Jr. Islanders, and potted his first USHL goal.

“I love that kid,” Ward said. “He’s heart and soul. He’s unbelievable. A midseason add, credit to our GMs and our group here. Coming up through the Black Bear program, it’s awesome to see a kid that’s homegrown come up. The kid is going to get a scholarship to play Division I hockey and I’m just proud of him. He came in and filled the role, and now he’s starting to get comfortable making plays and he’s kind of a Swiss Army Knife, so good for Coleson. I love that kid and he’s probably one of the best teammates I’ve ever seen. Super happy for him to get his first. That was a pretty special moment for him.”

Taking advantage of some netfront chaos, Ryan Botterill broke the 1-all tie with a power play goal. Cerrato and Andrew Strathmann picked up assists on the score.

Like in the opening frame, the second period was a similar story. The Gamblers struck first, with DeAngelo netting his 23rd of the season, but Youngstown answered once again to retake the edge.

Phantoms forward Brecken Smith finally broke through after a long stretch of black jerseys peppering the net to no avail. The goal marks the fifth of the season for the Miami (Ohio) commit.

Strong second periods have been a hallmark of this season’s Phantoms team.

“I’ve kind of lost control of these guys right now,” Ward said jokingly. “They called their own faceoff play there in the neutral zone, and Brecken had a ton of poise with the puck and took it to the net, and made the goalie open up and it was great.

“As far as second periods go, it’s funny. Last year was the complete opposite. We sucked in the second period, but this year, we’ve been good in the second and just tonight overall, it was a complete game of exactly how we need to play.”

The third period was halted for roughly 15 minutes due to the fire alarms falsely going off.

But both teams got right back to business after the reprieve, as the Phantoms continued peppering the net.

Seven minutes after play resumed, the Phantoms broke through Moffatt’s wall once again. This time, it was Nathan Lewis who answered the call, popping the water bottle atop the Gamblers’ net.

Lewis’ tear continues with his seventh goal and 11th total point in 10 games with the Phantoms this year.

The trio of Botterill, Cerrato and Lewis garnered high praise from Ward. The three Big Ten-bound forwards have been crucial cogs to the Phantoms’ machine and have been a game-changing group when called upon.

“That was an NHL game by those three,” Ward said. “I mean, there’s not really much else to say. Those guys were the most dominant line I’ve ever seen in junior hockey tonight.”

Shots on goal in Friday’s game were 36 to 18 in favor of Youngstown.

The Phantoms close out the series tonight at the Covelli Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.

Youngstown (30-19-6-4, 70 points) looks to close the regular season out on a high note, splitting a home-and-home with the US National Team Development Program U17s. Friday’s contest is the regular season finale at the Covelli Centre, with Saturday’s game being held in Plymouth, Mi.

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