BOX SCORE


BRIGHTON, NY – A goal four minutes into regulation was all the offense the Youngstown Phantoms (7-7-3-1, 18 points) would need on this night, but they tacked on two more and got 21 saves from Jacob Fowler as they shut out the Green Bay Gamblers 3-0 Thursday night at Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex. The contest was part of the USHL's American Cup, powered by Wegman's.

"I thought 'Fowls' was exactly what we needed him to be back there," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "He calmed the game down. He was extremely solid in net. His rebound control was excellent. That's what we expect Jacob to do every night, and he really answered the bell this evening."

Youngstown got one goal each period, starting with Matthew Perkins snapping a wrister from the high slot past Peyton Grainer (17 saves) 4:06 into regulation. Perkins used his speed to race behind the defense and catch up to a breakout pass from James Fisher, who returned to the lineup after missing five games with an injury.

Brandon Svoboda doubled the Phantoms lead late in the second period. Escaping the penalty box, Svoboda received a pass from Hunter Bischoff at center after the puck directed off Shane Lachance. Coming down the left wing, Svoboda loosed a wrister from the dot that slid past Grainer for Svoboda's fourth of the season. "I think (Svoboda)'s confidence is really coming, which is why you're seeing him have such an impact on the game," said Ward. "He's got sneaky speed. He's obviously skilled. He's big, he's long. Super excited about the coming months here with Brandon."

The Phantoms weren't done, and they left it to their captain to finish off the night. After a brilliant keep at the right point by Nick Williams, the puck came down the wall to Perkins. Perkins won a battle behind the net and played the puck to the left corner. From there, Perkins found Lachance charging down the slot and fed him a perfect pass. Lachance made no mistake, burying a one-timer at 8:31 for his team-leading 12^th of the season and the final marker of the night. Green Bay pushed to dent the scoreboard late in the third period, but Fowler and the Phantoms defense held strong, preserving their second shutout of the season and the fourth of Fowler's career.

Youngstown and Green Bay wrap up the American Cup festivities tomorrow night from Bill Gray's with a 7:30pm puck drop.

By the Numbers
Shots – 20
Saves – 21
Power Play – 0/4
Penalty Kill – 3/3
Goals – Lachance, Perkins, Svoboda
Assists – Bischoff, Fisher, Lachance, Perkins, Williams