Phantoms come up short against Gamblers - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – With their top two scorers away representing their country, the Youngstown Phantoms struggled to create offense Friday at Brown County Arena. The Green Bay Gambler netted a pair of goals on the power play and their goaltender Michael Rotolo turned away all 27 shots he faced to shut out the Phantoms 5-0 in the first of a two-game set.

Goaltender Sean Romeo got the start in net for Youngstown (5-8-0, 10 points) and surrendered four goals on 13 shots in the loss. Patrick Spano came on in relief in the second period and turned away 22 of 23 pucks thrown his way.

Leading scorer Austin Cangelosi and No. 2 scorer JT Stenglein were both unavailable Friday night, and will not gone for the Phantoms next three contests while representing Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Head coach Anthony Noreen acknowledged that the team missed the pair's presence, but would not offer their absence as an excuse.

"Of course we missed Austin and JT," Noreen said. "But it gives other guys the chance to step up, and the bottom line is we didn't take advantage of the opportunity it provided those guys."

Barrett Kaib opened the scoring just past the midway mark of the first when his slap shot from the right point was redirected in the slot, beating Romeo low. Then with 2:47 left in the period, Trevor Olson pounced on rebound to the weak-side and backhanded it just behind the crossbar to put the Gamblers up 2-0.

The Phantoms entered the first intermission trailing for the ninth time this season.

"The higher the level, the harder it is to come back and when you get to the highest level – the USHL, college hockey, pros – it's extremely difficult to," Noreen said. "You can't expect to win if you surrender leads as early and often as we have."

Olson netted his second of the night on a power play four minutes into the middle period. The Phantoms got another bad break three minutes later when Jimmy Irwin threw a puck toward the crease from behind the goal line and it banked off Romeo's skate and into the net.

Ryan Siroky capped the scoring on a power play 8:11 into the third when he threw a puck past Spano from just outside the crease.

Phantoms by the Numbers

Shots – 27

Saves – 31

Power Play – 0-for-1

Penalty Kill – 3-for-5

Goals – None

Assists – None