Mahoning claims shootout win
November 28, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, OH. - Traverse City North Stars head coach Anthony Palumbo won't cite bus legs, home ice, or an intimidating crowd as to why his club fell behind 2-0 to Mahoning Valley in the first period of Friday's NAHL North Showcase in downtown Youngstown. He says the explanation is simple.
"We were flat-out lousy from the opening face-off," said Palumbo, whose team faced a two-goal deficit after 20 minutes of play. "Then, I think the guys felt a little embarrassed in front of 4,000 fans and the competitive juices started to flow again and we got back into the game."
The Stars scored twice in the first half of the second stanza before eventually falling by a 3-2 margin in a shootout with the North Division co-leaders. Nate Urbaniak (Perrysburg, OH/TC North Stars) registered a power play a goal at 5:16 of the period, and Marc Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) evened things up just over four minutes later, setting up a scoreless second half of the contest and subsequent five-minute overtime session.
"For the last two periods and the overtime, we played right âem," Palumbo added. "And (goalie) Brandon Stephenson was just fantastic tonight. He kept us in it through the first period and made some terrific saves in the second and third. Their guy (Jordan Tibbett) was pretty impressive, too. We saw a lot of good goaltending tonight."
Stephenson (Saline, MI/TC North Stars) made 20 saves in 22 tries, and still hasn't lost a regulation contest since Sept. 26 (7-1-2).
Traverse City, now 13-3-3 and a point behind Mahoning in the NAHL North, faces off against Alpena on Saturday in the second day of the Showcase in a rare 1 p.m. start. TC finishes against St. Louis on Sunday at 11 a.m.
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North American Hockey League Stories from November 28, 2008
- RoadRunners Win in Shootout - Topeka Pilots
- Mahoning claims shootout win - Traverse City North Stars
- Phantoms Topple North Stars in Shootout for First Place - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Rangers Fall on Friday - Marquette Rangers
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