Four-goal third period does North Stars in

March 3, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Traverse City, Michigan (Friday, March 3, 2006) - Marc Menzione scored twice and assisted a third, Drew Satterley scored once and assisted twice, and Ryan Zapolski made 26 saves to give the Mahoning Valley Phantoms a 5-2 win over the Traverse City North Stars in North American Hockey League (NAHL) action at Centre Ice Arena.

The Phantoms 10 days of rest resembled more like rust in the first eight minutes, and the home team took advantage. After Travis Paeth dumped the puck down the right side, he intercepted a clearing attempt behind the net and fed Patrick Nagorsen in the slot. With traffic in front of him, he sent a wrist shot past the blocker side of a screened Ryan Zapolski for his 17th goal of the season to give the North Stars a 1-0 lead at the 2:38 mark of the opening period. In 10 prior meetings, the Phantoms outscored Traverse City 21-4 in the first period.

The breaks didn't go the Phantoms way in the period. After Nagorsen's goal, Craig Dulman's dump in down the right wing hit a space dividing the side boards. As goaltender Ryan Donovan went behind his net to stop the puck, it made a left turn towards the net; rendering Donovan helpless and out of position. But the puck hit the post, and the North Stars dodged the awkward bounce. Five minutes later, the Phantoms had another opportunity when Jake Erway's stick clipped Mike Maltese in the nose. The high-stick drew blood from Maltese and Erway was assessed a double-minor.

However, the Phantoms could only muster one shot over the two man advantages. Despite holding Traverse City to one shot over the final 14 minutes, they trailed after the opening period.

The Phantoms, 30-16-4, gained further control of the ice in the second period, holding the North Stars to one shot in the first five minutes and soon caught Traverse City in the middle of a line change to even the score.

Zapolski sent the puck ahead to Jacob Roadhouse, who found himself with teammates and open ice, heading the other way on a rare four-on-one break. With numerous options, Roadhouse made the right decision, feathering a short pass to a trailing Milan Drevenak. Drevenak wound up and fired a bullet that Donovan couldn't stop with his glove. It was Milan's 11th on the season and the game was tied at 1-1 at 5:03 of the period.

Despite falling shorthanded three times later in the period, the Phantoms held their ground and had chances including a Drevenak breakaway which Donovan thwarted with a glove save. Both teams skated end to end for the bulk of the period and headed to the locker room tied after two sessions.

The Phantoms, now 6-3-1 when tied after two periods, applied pressure from the opening face off of the third period. Following another draw in the North Stars zone, Satterley passed to John Kivisto on the left point. The defenseman's shot was lightly redirected by Menzione in front and slid past the left skate of Donovan and inside the left post for a 2-1 lead at 2:49.

But like they've done so often, the North Stars, 15-31-6, showed their resiliency and tied it at 2-2 on a delayed penalty against the Phantoms. Traverse City kept possession of the puck long enough to get a sixth attacker into the Phantoms zone. Jarrett Rush threw the puck towards the net from the left point. It deflected to the stick of Jonathan Juliano, who stood alone to Zapolski's right. He flipped a quick backhander between the goaltender's legs for his ninth on the campaign at 4:54. The Phantoms top line resumed their season-long assault on TC and used their physical brut to retake the lead midway through the period.

Anthony Ciraulo outmuscled the puck from a North Star ahead to Menzione behind the goal line. As Satterley broke for the net, Menzione faced the goal and fed his linemate on the left post. Satterley's hard snapshot whistled past Donovan on the stick side just as the right wing was taken down in front of the net. It turned out to be the game-winner at the 10:50 mark for a 3-2 lead. The Phantoms then made a statement by adding an insurance goal just 65 seconds later.

Owen Meyer, who was snakebit all night, unable to convert numerous scoring chances, recovered the puck after a shot and cycled it behind the goal to Matt Quigley. Quigley threaded a pass onto Maltese's stick in the left face off circle. Maltese skated into the slot and fired a wrist shot over Donovan's shoulder for his 17th goal to make it 4-2.

Despite having to kill two power plays in the period, the Phantoms still outshot the North Stars 21-11 in the period and 42-28 for the game. Traverse City pulled Donovan for an extra attacker with 1:20 remaining. They had five shots on goal late, but Zapolski rejected them all. Kivisto recorded his second assist when Satterley cleared the puck ahead to the defenseman, who fed Menzione for the empty netter with 3.9 seconds left to close out the scoring. Menzione and Satterley are now tied for the team lead in goals with 27.

Zapolski improved to 19-10-4 with the win, while Donovan fell to 5-10-3. Saturday night's rematch will be the final game between both teams in the regular season. Face off is scheduled for 7:30pm.



American Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2006


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