First-Place Phantoms Look to Sew Up Home Ice
Published on March 12, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH (Thursday, March 12th, 2009) - The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are fresh off a bye week as they prepare to open a four-game homestand at the Chevrolet Centre starting Friday.
The Traverse City North Stars (28-16-6, 62 pts) invade for the first three games of the set, looking to bounce back from a two-game sweep at now-second-place Team USA last weekend and improve their current third-place standing-the lowest the North Stars have been in the division all season.
The Phantoms (33-12-5, 71 pts), on the other hand, kick off Friday's game against Traverse City looking to lock up home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs; any combination of points gained in the standings by the Phantoms and lost by the North Stars adding up to eight would secure three games at the Chevrolet Centre in Mahoning Valley's first-round playoff series.
Through ten games this season, the Phantoms are 5-2-3 against the North Stars, including a 3-0-1 mark against TC at home.
The last time the two teams met, the Phantoms captured five of six possible points from Traverse City as they went 2-0-1 against the North Stars in a three-game series at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
Nick Kenney scored four goals on the weekend, including a hat trick in the Sunday finale, as the Phantoms won 4-1, lost 6-5 in overtime and won 5-1 to get some breathing room in the standings from the then-second-place North Stars.
Kenney was named North Division Player of the Week for his efforts in the series. He is Mahoning Valley's leading scorer against Traverse City, having tallied seven goals and five assists in ten games played against the North Stars.
In net, Jordan Tibbett and Garrett Bartus have combined for a 3.00 GAA and an .892 SV% when facing TC.
Kyle Bonis remains the North Stars' top scoring threat against the Phantoms; the Traverse City captain has two goals and nine assists in those ten games played.
Friday and Saturday night's games will be at 7:15 PM against the North Stars while Sunday's game will be a 3:00 PM matinee at the Chevrolet Centre.
The Phantoms will follow up their three-game series with a stand-alone game against the second-place US National Team on Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
The game will be the Phantoms' annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, culminating in a special-edition jersey auction at the end of the contest.
Team USA (30-14-4, 64 pts) soared into second place last weekend when the Nationals went 4-0-1 in their five-game weekend to pull within seven points of the division-leading Phantoms; Tuesday will be the final regular season meeting between the North's top two teams.
All four games will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin 15 minutes before the start of each contest.
Phantoms individual game tickets are on sale at the Phantom Box Office at the Ice Zone. Call (330) 965-7500 for more information.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2009
- Big 3 in the Valley: Stars Phantoms clash - Traverse City North Stars
- Bismark takes on Alberta Lea - Albert Lea Thunder
- First-Place Phantoms Look to Sew Up Home Ice - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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