North Stars take series opener, 4-1

Published on April 17, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City North Stars were the seventh-best defensive team in the North American Hockey League during the regular season, but have become downright miserly in the playoffs.

Drew Strandberg stopped 26 of 27 shots, and permitted a goal for just the second time in four postseason contests, as the North Stars claimed a 4-1 victory over the Motor City Metal Jackets in the opening game of the NAHL North Division Finals on Friday at Centre ICE arena.

Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL), who had a pair of shutouts in the North semifinals, was masterful again on Friday, while Andy Huff (Howell, MI/Honeybaked U18/Ferris St.) registered a goal and an assist.

"I wouldn't say we played our best game tonight, but we played well enough," said Traverse City head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "We got timely goals and good goaltending, and probably got a few more bounces than they did. Give them (Motor City) credit; they played a good, hard game. And usually, the team that plays well but loses in the first game of a series usually comes back and performs even better the next night. We'll have to be ready for that."

Huff cracked the scoresheet late in the first period - with :34 left - taking a pass from Chris Heineman (New Boston, MI/TC North Stars) and Eric McLintock (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars) and beating Jackets goalkeep Phillip Graveline on the power play.

Kelin Ainsworth (Thunder Bay, ONT/Ft. William SIJHL/Lake Superior St.) made it a 2-0 affair 6:20 into the second stanza, and Garrett Thompson (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars/Ferris St.) gave the hosts a three-goal cushion 4:58 before the second intermission. Chris Salomone (Homer Glen, IL/TC North Stars) and Curtis Heinz (Grand Rapids, MI/Wichita Falls NAHL) assisted on Ainsworth's second playoff goal, while Doug Clifford (Woodhaven, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL) set up Thompson's third.

Nilan Nagy (Canonsburg, PA/Pittsburgh Predators U18) gave TC a 4-0 edge early in the third - Nick Shkreli (Romeo, MI/Mahoning Valley NAHL) and Huff were credited with assists - before Andrew Graves got the visitors on the board at 11:06.

"I'm ecstatic about getting a win, no question about it," Palumbo said. "But I think it was a much more even game than the score might indicate. The bottom line is we found a way to win, and we'll have to do the same thing again on Saturday."

The North Stars went 1-for-4 with the man advantage, and held the Metal Jackets to an 0-for-6 night on the power play.

The clubs will meet up again on Saturday night for Game Two at Centre ICE arena. Face-off is slated for 7 p.m.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central