(USHL) Fargo, N.D. — Game two of the best-of-five 2023 Clark Cup Final between Youngstown and Fargo was a lot like Game One. Another goaltending battle that once again went Youngstown’s way.
The difference in this one was the fact it went to overtime, with the visiting Phantoms finding a way to pick up a 2-1 win. And with the victory Youngstown has taken a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The Force outshot the Phantoms by a 12-6 margin in a scoreless opening frame, but it was the visiting team that got on the board first in the second period.
Myles Gunty, who scored the game-winner for Youngstown in Friday’s 4-1 win, took a pass from Tyler Catalana and ripped a shot from the left circle that beat Matej Marinov high on the glove side at the 2:49 mark of the middle period. Force forward Bret Link split the defense before backhanding a shot past Jacob Fowler in making it 1-1 at 9:27 and that’s how it remained after the first 40 minutes of action.
The Phantoms outshot the Force by a 9-8 margin in the third period, but neither team was able to dent the twine, sending the game into overtime.
The Phantoms closed out the win when forward Andon Cerbone wired a shot from the top of the left circle over Marinov’s right shoulder. The goal marked the second time this playoff season the Cerbone scored the game-winner in overtime for the Phantoms as the Quinnipiac commit also tallied in the extra-session in a 3-2 double-overtime win over Cedar Rapids April 28.
Fargo, which owned a 31-26 advantage in shots on goal in the game, were zero-for-one in power play chances. The Phantoms went zero-for-two in power play opportunities in the game.
Game three of the series is scheduled for next Friday in Youngstown.
