YOUNGSTOWN — A third period rush helped push the Youngstown Phantoms past Cedar Rapids on Saturday, dispatching the Rough Riders, 5-3.

Kade Stengrim set the tone early, scoring his fifth goal of the season less than two minutes into the contest.

“I liked our start,” Phantoms coach Ryan Ward said. “I actually thought our start was better tonight than last night. I think we stayed in it, we didn’t give up a whole lot. … I like that we generated more tonight. Overall, I thought it was a good effort. We’ve got one more tomorrow, and it’s great playing here at the Covelli Centre.”

Stengrim and linemates Jakub Hes and Michael Coleman have been a productive combination of forwards for the Phantoms this season.

“I think they have an identity. I think it’s important that they have an identity,” Ward said. “Kade’s really coming along. Obviously, he goes to the net, has real good hands and a tight, excellent shot. All three of them I thought played well. He is a very smart player. He’s probably more underrated. I don’t think people appreciate how good he is. That line has been good. It’s been a great identity line for us.”

While the Phantoms pulled away in the third period, they went tit-for-tat with Cedar Rapids early.

The Rough Riders responded quickly to Stengrim’s opening goal. Heath Nelson beat out Owen Lepak to knot the game back up.

But Evan Jardine gave Youngstown the edge going into the first intermission, finding the back of the net with the help of Jack Hextall, who tallied his 10th assist so far this season.

Nelson struck again for Cedar Rapids and Daniel Astapovich gave the Rough Riders their only lead of the night midway through the second period.

Defenseman Conner de Haro, who finished the game with a goal and an assist, tied the game up for the Phantoms less than two minutes after Cedar Rapids took the lead.

“Conner has been coming offensively,” Ward said. “Obviously joining the rush, and things like that, and I think he continues to play well. He’s just playing within himself and I think that’s really important.”

That game-tying goal sparked the Phantoms going into the third.

Landan Resendes broke the deadlock in the third period, scoring what went on to be the game-winner against his former team.

“He’s someone for the last two years that, while he was on that team, was a thorn in our side,” Ward said. “(He’s also) someone that we identified last year as someone we would like to acquire and to get into the organization. Thankfully, we were able to do that this year. He’s a prototypical Phantom, and certainly brings it every night.”

It didn’t take long for the Phantoms to add further to their lead.

This time it was Brecken Smith who found the back of the net, giving the Phantoms a 5-3 lead, which would hold.

In the third period, the Phantoms limited Cedar Rapids to just two shots on net. Youngstown dominated in the shots-on-goal department Saturday, outshooting the Rough Riders 32-13.

“We just wanted to be on the right side of pucks, and really, just keep attacking,” Ward said. “I think for us, we were carrying the game, and we just wanted to continue to play our game and stick to our game plan, be above pucks and play as fast as we can to get the puck to the other end.”

The Phantoms play host to the US National Team Development Program U18s today. Start time is set for 4:05 p.m. at the Covelli Centre.