Fargo, ND – The Fargo force fell in Game 1 of the Clark Cup to the Youngstown Phantoms Friday night 4-1. Anton Castro stopped 20 of 23 shots on goal in the loss. For Youngstown, Jacob Fowler stopped 29 of 30 shots in Game 1.
The first period rolled out slowly, with neither side generating much offensively, as play stayed primarily in the neutral zone. A Youngstown turnover resulted in a jousting match in front of the Phantom net, but nothing slipped past. Castro denied Jake Rozzi on the doorstep to keep the game scoreless. The Rozzi chance sparked Youngstown, as they peppered Castro with a number of one-time shots in tight, all turned away. Not to be outdone, the Force brought their own couple of chances, including one that was sealed off at the post after bouncing off the end boards. Jakob Stender tried a drop pass to Zam Plante off the rush, but it was tipped aside by a Youngstown stick. The Phantoms' Matthew Perkins flew in blocker side on Castro, but his attempt was punched away. Owen Mehlenbacher closed out the frame with a bang, laying a huge hit on a Phantom and drawing a crowd.
Stender started out the second period with a point blast that was deflected away by Fowler. Bret Link dished a pass for Cole Knuble from behind the offensive goal line, but Knuble couldn't corral the puck as he was bodied by William Whitelaw. Fargo gave the puck away and Youngstown's Nick Williams fired a laser that Castro kicked to safety. Mac Swanson tried a toe drag move that Fowler stuffed at the post. The Phantoms had a bit of zone time that yielded no goals. In fact, the pressure allowed Leo Gruba to streak in but couldn't find the back of the net from his backhand. Girts Silkalns threw one on net, brushed back by Fowler. Then, in the best chance of the contest, Cole Knuble sent a bouncing puck towards to Link who just couldn't gather the puck. Mehlenbacher wired a backhanded shot from the edge of the blue paint that Fowler absorbed. Fargo nearly scored in a netfront scrum but Fowler sprawled, keeping the game at zero. Silkalns and Youngstown's Andrew Strathmann were both whistled for slashing at 16:13, resulting in a 4 on 4. Fargo treated the extra ice like a power play, cycling the puck in the Phantom's end, culminating in a fast break for Anthony Menghini that ended in the glove of Fowler. Silkalns received a high-sticking penalty at 19:32, sending the Force to their first penalty kill. The Phantoms didn't get much going to start and had 1:32 of carryover power play time to start the third.
Link was called for a high-sticking penalty at 26 seconds, resulting in one minute and eight seconds of a Youngstown 5 on 3. Right after the first penalty expired, Whitelaw at 1:36 drew the Phantoms ahead 1-0. Whitelaw scored through traffic, despite Castro getting a piece of the shot. The momentum swung further to the visitors when Miles Gunty went top shelf at 2:52 doubling the lead to 2-0. Fargo went to their first power play at 4:51 off a Justin Varner high-sticking penalty. The Force held the zone excellently, and a jousting match in front of Fowler made a snow angel in the blue paint, but no goal. Despite the zone time, Fargo couldn't score even with a screened snap shot by Charlie Russell as the power play ended. Harper Bentz came in hot towards the net, but couldn't elevate the puck over Fowler. Mehlenbacher had a sharp angle shot, but sailed through the crease and out. Fargo continued to break out well, but couldn't penetrate the Youngstown blue line with getting the rush broken up. Castro recovered well after a fortuitous bounce and giveaway so much so the net came off its moorings. Shane Lachance jammed home a loose puck at 15:15 in a bank shot that bounced off Castro to extend the Phantom advantage to 3-0. Nick Oliver pulled Castro at 15:32 for the extra attacker, and Whitelaw added to the score on an empty net goal at 15:41 pushing the game to 4-0. Varner took a second high-sticking penalty at 16:10 putting the Force back to the man advantage. Menghini broke the shutout at 19:02 on a wrist shot from the slot bringing the score to 4-1. Youngstown's Chase Pietlia and Menghini got offsetting minors at 19:30 ending the game 4 on 4.
Game 2 of the Clark Cup Finals takes place tomorrow night back at Scheels Arena with puck drop at 6:05pm CST. Tickets can purchased online under the 'Tickets' tab on the Fargo Force website or by clicking HERE
