In a re-match of Friday night’s blowout loss, the Phantoms looked to right the ship last night by knocking off the very same Springfield Thunderbirds that dropped seven goals on them just the night before. After a back and forth game, and third period tie at two, the Phantoms would allow two goals in 18 seconds just six minutes into the period. On the verge of dropping back-to-back games, they needed someone to start the comeback.
Enter two rookies, the first being 2015 5th round pick, David Kase.
With goaltender Anthony Stolarz pulled, and with just under two and a half minutes remaining in the game, Colin McDonald found Chris Conner at the red line, who then sent the puck to the front of the net where Kase was able to put home his first professional goal.
Still in need of another goal to force overtime, they pulled Stolarz again and went back to work. And who better than the team’s reigning goal-scoring leader to step up and force overtime.
After Philip Samuelsson’s one-timer handcuffed Chris Driedger, Greg Carey was able to pounce on the rebound and tie the game with under thirty seconds remaining in regulation.
Following an overtime period that saw the Phantoms out-shoot the Thunderbirds 4 to 1, they found themselves in their first shootout of the season. Goals by Taylor Leier and Henrik Borgstrom had tied the shootout at one goal a piece, but the tie wouldn’t last for long as 2016 1st round pick German Rubtsov was able to beat Driedger, giving the Phantoms a 2-1 edge.
German Rubtsov’s game winning shootout goal in the Phantoms 5-4 comeback win tonight. pic.twitter.com/KOx3eFvC5s
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) October 14, 2018
One split save by Stolarz later and the Phantoms had secured their second win of the season, thanks in-part to two of their rookie skaters.
Through the first three games of the season, Rubtsov has a goal, six shots on goal, a 47.83% CF at 5-on-5 (-6.78% rel) and a -2 goal differential at even strength.
Kase, who has played in two games, has a goal, a primary assist, five shots on goal, a 41.38% CF at 5-on-5 (-9.31% rel) and a -1 goal differential at even strength.
They’ve each drawn two minor penalties, while taking none themselves.
