North Division Semifinals Shift to Traverse City for Game Three
April 8, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, MI (Wednesday, April 8th, 2009) - Following a two-game split in Youngstown to open the 2009 NAHL Playoffs, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and Traverse City North Stars are heading north to Centre ICE Arena for Game Three of the North Division Semifinals Thursday in Traverse City, MI.
The best-of-five series is tied at one game apiece after the teams split two games at the Chevrolet Centre last weekend with the Phantoms claiming Game One 5-4 in comeback style before the North Stars held off a Phantoms rally in Game Two to even the series with a 4-3 overtime victory.
With the scene shifting back to Traverse City for Game Three on Thursday, Mahoning Valley captain Johnny Meo says the team is in a good frame of mind.
"We're not panicking or anything like that," says Meo, a third-year forward from Vernon Hills, IL, "we know we need to win and it would be nice to get both [Games Three and Four] to move onto the second round."
In six games at Centre ICE Arena during the regular season, the Phantoms held a 2-2-2 record against the Stars.
The last time the two sides met in northeast Michigan was a three-game early January series where no lead was safe; the team leading after the second period ended up losing in all three contests.
The Phantoms were the first to let a late lead slip away when, up 3-2 after two periods and later 4-2, the Stars rallied for two goals in the game's final two minutes to force overtime and ultimately win 5-4 in a shootout.
The next night, Traverse City held a 3-1 advantage after the first 40 minutes that was erased by a four-goal Phantoms outburst in the final frame to post Mahoning Valley to a 5-3 victory.
In the series finale, the Phantoms again led after two periods-this time 2-1-but again TC rallied, this time for three goals, to tip the Phantoms 4-2.
Linemates Nick Kenney and Jordy Trottier have been the most productive Phantoms in 15 games against Traverse City to this point, with Kenney tallying eight goals to go with seven assists while Trottier has piled up five goals and ten assists.
"Our line seems to click really well when we're out there against 'TC,'" says Kenney, who recently committed to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. "We match up well with [Traverse City's] defense out there, which helps us run our plays on offense and defense."
North Stars captain Kyle Bonis leads all scorers in the head-to-head matchups, ringing up nine goals and 11 assists including two of his league-leading eight game-winning goals during the regular season.
The puck drops for Game Three of the North Division Semifinals Thursday at 7:05 PM. Game Four will be Friday at Centre ICE, also at 7:05.
If the teams split the two games in Traverse City, Game Five will be Sunday at 7:00 PM at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
Game Three will be broadcast locally on ESPN Radio 1240, WBBW-AM, and worldwide at MVPPhantoms.com via B2 Networks. The pregame show will begin at 6:50 PM.
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