BOX SCORE

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO – Two goals 88 seconds apart in the second period broke a 1-1 tie and proved too deep a hole for the Youngstown Phantoms (32-10-3-1, 68pts) to climb out of as they fell to the Muskegon Lumberjacks 3-2 Saturday night at the Covelli Centre.

"It comes down to the details," said Phantoms Head Coach Ryan Ward. "A missed boxout, a missed block, a couple of goals that probably shouldn't have went in the net. I just think, for us, we just have to channel (the effort in) the third and keep rolling here."

Youngstown found themselves in a hole early, with Muskegon striking on the game's opening shift. A quick feed from the left corner came to the slot for Rudolfs Berkalns, who fired a quick one-timer past Owen Lepak 33 seconds into the game, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Phantoms knotted the game up 5:58 into the middle frame. Ryan Rucinski converted a power play for Youngstown, hammering home a shot-pass from Evan Jardine. It was Rucinski's 15^th power play goal of the season, which ties a team record set by Brett Murray in 2018-19 and Shane Lachance in 2022-23. Muskegon jumped back ahead at 13:57 when Carter Amico's shot from the right point found twine past a screened Lepak. Niles Benson tacked on an insurance goal, which ended up being the game winner, 88 seconds later when his initial shot from in tight hit the end glass and came back in front. Benson buried his own rebound at 15:25, giving Muskegon a 3-1 lead at the end of the second.

Youngstown drew back to within one at the 5:00 mark of the third period. Jardine fed Jack Hextall in the slot for a one-time blast on the power play, bringing the score to 3-2. The Phantoms applied plenty of pressure throughout the remainder of regulation, forcing Carl Axelsson into a couple of spectacular saves, but Muskegon was able to hold on for the victory.

"A little adversity is never a bad thing, especially with the way our past couple of months has gone," said Ward. "It's a good time for us to take heat."
Youngstown and Muskegon wrap up their three-in-three weekend with a Sunday matinee; puck drop coming at 4:05pm Eastern.

BY THE NUMBERS
Shots – 33
Saves – 22
Power Play – 2/3
Penalty Kill – 1/1
Goals – Hextall, Rucinski
Assists – Jardine (2), Simpson, Willson