A goal with 3:04 remaining in the game sealed the game for the Youngstown Phantoms (6-7-0-2) as they defeated the Central Illinois Flying Aces 4-3 Friday night at Grossinger Motors Arena.

Bradley Marek started the game off with a bang as he got the Flying Aces on the board just 1:47 into the game as he redirected a shot through the five-hole of Jon Mor (24 saves). Cal Kiefiuk would double their lead on a breakaway and then the Phantoms would begin to apply the pressure.

Trevor Kuntar cut the Phantoms deficit in half at the 14:27 mark of the first period as he picked up a rebound and banged it home. Jack Malone would tie the game just over a minute later as he scored on a nifty backhand shot and the game would enter the first break deadlocked at two apiece.

Jeremy Davidson would score the lone goal in the second period. A bouncing puck jumped over the stick of a Phantoms defender and he carried it into the Phantoms zone and fired a wrister from just inside the left circle to regain the lead for the Aces.

The Phantoms would continue to apply pressure out of the second intermission and would be rewarded on the Power Play. Connor MacEachern sent a puck to Malone at the top of the right circle who was able to send a pass through the slot that was redirected into the net by Brett Murray to tie the game for the Phantoms.

The goal would add to the Phantoms momentum and they would take the lead off the rush as Liam Robertson crashed through the slot with speed and lifted the puck on his backhand over the blocker of Flying Aces netminder Mitchell Gibson to give the Phantoms the lead and the victory.

Both teams return to action in the second to last matchup between the Phantoms and Flying Aces this season. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:07 and the broadcast is available on HockeyTV.
 
By the Numbers
Shots – 33
Saves – 24
Power Play – 1/4
Penalty Kill – 2/2
Goals – Kuntar, Malone, Murray (PP), Robertson
Assists – Barnaby, Dobay, MacEachern (2), Murray, Malone, Cassaro