BOX SCORE

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Youngstown Phantoms (9-3-1-0, 19 points) got a three-point performance from Mikey Burchill, a pair of goals from Braiden Clark, and 27 saves from Owen Bartoszkiewicz as they downed the Tri-City Storm 6-3 Friday night at the Covelli Centre.

"I thought our guys were good, I thought they competed," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "It was a tough game to get everyone in the flow and everyone involved. It was difficult. I thought our guys answered the bell. It's good to win the first game of the weekend, we've got a huge test tomorrow night."

For the third game in a row, a goal came on the first shot of the contest, but this time it was the visitors that were the beneficiary as Cam Briere snapped a wrister past Bartoszkiewicz just 1:53 into the game to put Tri-City ahead. Youngstown answered back with two before the end of the period, however, to grab a 2-1 lead at the break. Burchill got his first of the night at 9:48, picking off a clearing pass and snapping it past Cameron Korpi (26 saves) for his fifth of the season, first shorthanded. Clark redirected Finn McLaughlin's shot from the right point for a power play goal at 17:49 for his third of the year.

The Storm earned a shorthanded goal early in the second period thanks to a great individual effort by August Falloon at 6:48, but the Phantoms had another pair of special teams goals up their sleeves, allowing them to snag a 4-2 lead. At 12:51, it was Clark again, redirecting another McLaughlin shot behind Korpi. At 17:21, Ryan Botterill got in on the act, snapping a wrister from the left circle through Korpi to the short side for his sixth of the campaign, third on the power play.

Tri-City opened up the scoring in the third period as well, with Cooper Simpson scoring his first goal in the USHL by stepping out from behind the net and slamming one through the pads of Bartoszkiewicz for a power play goal at 5:48. Youngstown kept up the attack and got just the insurance they needed at 18:00 with another goal from Burchill off a set faceoff play. Hunter Ramos capped off the scoring with an empty netter at 19:21.

Youngstown and Tri-City wrap up their season series Saturday night at the Covelli Centre with a 7:05pm puck drop.

By the Numbers
Shots – 32
Saves – 27
Power Play – 3/7
Penalty Kill – 1/8
Goals – Botterill, Burchill (2), Clark (2), Ramos
Assists – Botterill, Burchill, Cerrato, McLaughlin (2), Pitner, Willson, Young