Staff photo / Brian Yauger. Phantoms forward Jamison Sluys carries the puck up the ice while trying to fend off the defense of Dubuque’s Edison Engle.

YOUNGSTOWN — An action-packed first period set the tone on Friday as the Youngstown Phantoms and Dubuque Fighting Saints went toe-to-toe.

A full 60 minutes wasn’t enough, and the five-minute overtime period didn’t suffice. Ryan Rucinski’s shootout goal proved to be the difference-maker in a 5-4 victory for the Phantoms.

“I thought guys did a good job of sticking with it,” Ward said. “The first couple goals were a little wonky, but I think (we had a) great response in the first and I thought we had played a pretty, pretty solid second, had some chances we didn’t capitalize on, and the third was a little sloppy. Obviously it’s great to be back at home. It feels like we’ve been on the road for months.”

Dubuque came barreling out of the gates, and it paid off on the scoreboard. Lucas Van Vliet and Josh Giuliani each found the back of the net in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

That second goal woke the Phantoms up however, as Youngstown went on to score three times before the end of the opening frame.

Adam Benak and Michael Mesic helped match the Fighting Saints. Then came Luke Osburn, who moved his name up in the Phantoms’ record books with his slapshot.

Osburn’s first period goal moved the Sabres prospect to second all-time in goals by a defenseman in club history.

With 12 career goals, Osburn only trails current New York Islanders blueliner Scott Mayfield, who had 17.

It’s just another step forward for Osburn, who has taken several already this season.

“He’s really taking a step as a leader. His standing in the locker room, as far as being a go-to guy,” Ward said. “You just see how much he’s maturing as a player and a person, like being able to handle the minutes he plays, and the responsibility of being one of the best players on the team. I think he does a great job with that, and I think you see it in his game, and the confidence continues to grow. Obviously, he’s a he’s a heck of a player, and I think we’re gonna still see his best hockey here (to come.)

Things cooled off after the first period, with neither team connecting with the back of the net during the middle frame.

But both teams woke back up for the third, and just like the first, Dubuque struck first.

Matthew Desiderio re-tied the game at 3-each just two minutes into the third period.

The Phantoms responded however, with Carter Murphy beating out Fighting Saints’ netminder Liam Beerman to give Youngstown a 4-3 lead.

That lead would be short-lived however, as Michael Barron scored five minutes later to knot the game at 4 and force overtime.

Both teams traded chances in the extra period, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, leading to a shootout.

Both Osburn and Rucinski beat Beerman to push the Phantoms past the Fighting Saints.

Sluys was a part of each regulation goal, recording an assist on all four of the Phantoms’ scores.

The Phantoms (20-13-0-1, 41 points) host Dubuque again tonight.

Effort and cleanliness are the goals.

“We’re gonna have to bring what we brought there in the second and the end of the first period through the whole 60, and not let up the gas,” Sluys said. “We probably (need to) stay out of the box a little bit. We’re coming for two points tomorrow.”