Indians split with Phantoms

With the North Division title already clinched, the Michigan Soo Indians got a preview of what they were preparing to face in the North American Hockey League playoffs over the weekend.

The Youngstown Phantoms were in town to take on the Indians in a preview of the first round of the NAHL playoffs as the Phantoms will finish the regular season in fourth place in the North Division.

Having already beaten the Indians once this season, a win that handed the Indians their first regulation loss of the season back in early November, the Phantoms handed the Indians another first on Friday night.

The Phantoms rode a 49 save performance by goaltender Tyler Sims to a 3-2 victory over the Indians, handing the tribe their first regulation loss on home ice.

Aaron Rhyner scored twice while Rob Rassey scored the game winner for the Phantoms while Matt Buha and Derek Punches scored for the Indians.

On Saturday night, the Indians rode strong performances from Ray Kaunisto and Jason Blain along with goaltender Derek MacIntyre en route to a 3-1 win over the Phantoms.

The teams battled to a scoreless opening period before Kaunisto, who was named the game's third star, opened the scoring 6:27 into the second period by knocking in a loose puck during a scramble in front of the Youngstown goal.

Less than three minutes later, the Indians took a 2-0 lead when NAHL scoring leader Logan Bittle scored a power play marker. Bittle cut out in front of the net and waited for Sims to make the first move before beating the Phantoms netminder.

The Phantoms managed to get one goal back before the end of the period as Rhyner scored his third goal of the weekend with just over three minutes left in the period.

The Indians had some chances to seal the game in the third period but couldn't beat Sims, who had been solid all weekend.

Blain, who received first star honours for his efforts, capped off the scoring with less than a minute left to play to give the Indians the 3-1 victory.

Indians coach Joe Shawhan felt that there were a couple of things that his team needs to work on.

He added that the play of Youngstown will make their first round playoff series quite interesting, especially with the fact that the Phantoms have two wins against the Indians, both in regulation, and are the only team to have beaten the Indians multiple times in regulation.

"It's going to be a great series," Shawhan said. "(Tonight) a couple of our veteran defencemen lost body position at times and that's something we're going to work on in practice. We've got to keep causing traffic too."

Shawhan added that he was pleased with the play of Kaunisto, who joined the team after spending time with the Kewadin Casino Midget AAA Indians, and played in his first two Jr. A games this weekend with the Indians after completing the AAA midget season.

"We had to see what he could do and he tested well," Shawhan said of the 16-year-old forward.

Shawhan added that Kaunisto being in the lineup gives the Indians another option in the playoffs and his play leading up to the playoffs will dictate whether or not he plays.

Next action for the Indians will be this Friday and Saturday nights as the Springfield Jr. Blues make an appearance at the Chi Mukwa (Big Bear) Community Recreation Centre. Start times for the final regular season games for the Indians is 7 p.m.