Jackets Cuff North Stars, 2-1

Published on January 2, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


WYANDOTTE - The established practice of sending out a power play unit when the opposition is assessed a penalty is being called into question by Traverse City North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. After surrendering a pair of shorthanded goals in a 2-1 loss to Motor City at Yack Arena on Saturday, the Stars may go with the 'next five' approach.

"Our own power play continues to be our nemesis," lamented Palumbo, whose club has yielded an NAHL-high 11 shorthanded scores. "I think we'll just start rolling out the next line. We become so offensive-minded, playing without enough regard for our defensive responsibilities. We take crazy gambles and they've resulted in a lot of 2-on-1 breaks against us."

Both goals for Motor City on Saturday afternoon came with the Metal Jackets on odd-man rushes, with 2:17 to play in the second period, and the game-winner with 4:19 left in the game. Travis White (Sterling Heights, MI/TC North Stars) had given the visitors a 1-0 lead just 2:06 into the middle frame - his first of the season - but Traverse City could not solve Motown netkeep Jason Torf down the stretch, despite lengthy forays in the Jackets' zone. The North Stars thought they had a tying goal with around two minutes to play, but referee Dan Rankin waved off the lamplighter, claiming the net had come free of its moorings before the puck went in.

"The bottom line is that we didn't come out playing as hard as we have the past three games," Palumbo said. "We got back to that in the third period, and we controlled the play for the most part, but by that point it was too little, too late."

Andy Huff (Howell, MI/Honeybaked U18/Ferris State) and Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) assisted on White's goal, while Chris Paliafito (Shelbyville, KY/Owatonna NAHL) stopped 36 of 38 shots.

The North Stars (19-12-2) and Metal Jackets (11-12-6) will lock horns again on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.; The Stars will return to Centre ICE arena next weekend, when Alpena visits Traverse City on Saturday, Jan. 9 in a 7 p.m. affair.

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