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Phantoms shade Statrs; comeback falls short in shootout

November 17, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - The Traverse City North Stars found themselves on the short end of a 3-0 count in the second period on Friday night at Centre ICE arena, but battled back to earn a 60-minute draw with the visiting Mahoning Valley Phantoms before bowing out in a shootout, 6-5.

The Phantoms' special teams were particularly special, collecting a trio of power play markers to go along with two shorthanded efforts. The Stars contributed to the special teams inequity as well, according to North Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo.

"They (special teams) really cost us tonight," he postulated. "And that on top of a bad effort in the first period could very well have put the game out of our reach. On one hand, I think the extended layoff hurt us, but on the other hand, if someone would have come into the locker room at the first intermission with us down 3-0 and told me we were going to walk away from this game with a point, I'd have been...delighted."

TC native Eric O'Hearn got the comeback underway just 2:35 into the second stanza, with Matt Hughes potting his team-leading eight of the season less than two minutes later to make it a one-goal affair. The disparity did not endure, as Mahoning struck back 18 seconds later to make it a 4-2 contest at the second intermission.

O'Hearn levied another goal at 8:21 of the third period, with Nate Urbaniak logging the equalizer at 10:07. Eric McLintock's nifty point-blank stuff put the North Stars ahead briefly, but Derek Graham's power play tally at 15:41 pushed the contest into an extra frame and eventual shootout. After Jarrod LaBelle and Stefan Salituro traded shootout goals, John Huston recorded the game-winner in the sixth round.

"I think we showed heart and desire in those final two periods," Palumbo added. "We didn't quit and it was very positive on the bench. I could not have asked for two periods where our guys went after it harder."

TC defenseman Tyler Stephens dished out a trio of assists - just the fourth ‘playmaker' in team annuls - while Kellen Michalak added a pair. Joe Greener, Zach Hitch, Clinton Bourbonais, and Marc Thompson were credited with an assist apiece for the host North Stars, now 7-5-4. Brandon Stephenson made 21 stops for TC, while his counterpart Garrett Bartus stopped 31 in 36 tries.

The teams meet up again on Saturday night at Centre ICE arena, and close out the series on Sunday in a 1 p.m. matinee.

We thank you, our media partners, for your continued interest in Traverse City North Stars hockey. If there is anything we can do to help facilitate any aspect of your coverage, please do not hesitate to contact us. You are a valued component of North Stars hockey.

For more information, call Lance-Michael Correia at (231) 632-5047, the Traverse City North Stars office at (231) 941-9200 or visit the team's Web site at: www.traversecitynorthstars.com.

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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.

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