BOX SCORE

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Youngstown Phantoms scored a goal on the game's opening shift and never looked back, downing the Chicago Steel 4-1 Monday night at the Covelli Centre in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. Youngstown leads the best-of-five series two-games-to-one after tonight's victory.

"Starting on time is certainly something that we look for," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "I thought it was an assiduous effort tonight here by our fellas."

The opening shift goal came courtesy of the Youngstown captain, and Youngstown would not be tied or trailing after it. After a William Whitelaw breakaway failed to click, the puck came to Andrew Strathmann on the left wall. Strathmann's shot from about 50 feet out was redirected past Christian Manz (31 saves) by Shane Lachance for his second goal of the playoffs just 57 seconds into regulation.

Youngstown doubled their lead just past the halfway point of regulation. With time winding down on a power play, Martin Misiak fired a bullet to the back of the net from the right circle at 10:04 for his second goal of the playoffs, giving Youngstown a 2-0 lead.

Chicago cut into the Youngstown lead 3:20 into the third period when Michael Emerson tipped home a nice pass from Jack Harvey on the rush for his third goal of the playoffs, trimming the Youngstown lead to 2-1. That would be the only blemish on the night for Jacob Fowler, however, who stopped 29-of-30 after allowing five goals in Game 2 on Saturday.

It didn't take long for the Phantoms to respond to the Chicago marker either, as Andon Cerbone picked up a loose puck in the right circle and ripped it past Manz for his third goal of the playoffs. The goal came just 43 seconds after the Chicago tally, giving Youngstown back their two-goal cushion at 3-1. The Phantoms tacked on an insurance goal when Strathmann's shot from the right wall found its way past Manz at 16:15, capping off the scoring.

A Youngstown win in Game 4 on Tuesday night would eliminate Chicago and send the Phantoms to the Clark Cup Final for the second time in team history. The Fargo Force await the winner of the Eastern Conference Final, as Fargo downed Lincoln 8-4 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final to win that series 3-1.

By the Numbers
Shots – 35
Saves – 29
Power Play – 1/2
Penalty Kill – 1/1
Goals – Cerbone, Lachance, Misiak, Strathmann
Assists – Centrella, Isogai (2), Misiak, Strathmann, Whitelaw, Williams