Phantoms snuff Stars rally in shootout

Published on December 9, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


BOARDMAN, Ohio - Eight is enough - not just a corny TV show from yesteryear, it's now the mindset of the Traverse City North Stars.

After a 6-5 shootout loss at Mahoning Valley on Friday - the Stars' eighth consecutive setback - head coach and GM Scott Gardiner says his club is turning the corner.

"To step off the bus after eight hours and get a point (in the standings) out of that, I'm encouraged," he explained. "It was a good game, some good hockey out there, and I know we're going to come back even stronger tomorrow."

Mahoning Valley struck first - and fast. Taking a 1-0 lead a mere 40 seconds into the affair at The Ice Zone in Boardman, Ohio on a Craig Dulman goal, Mike Drevenak made it 2-0 just 1:32 later. Patrick Nagorsen cut the hosts' deficit in half with 7:20 left in the first period, and Steven Oleksy tied it up with a powerplay tally - the second period's lone score -- at 6:55.

Oleksy gave Traverse City a 3-2 edge 3:08 into the final regulation stanza, but two consecutive Mahoning Valley goals at 4:22 (Mike Maltese) and 6:21 (Anthony Ciraulo) put the Phantoms in front -- for a scant 48 seconds. Matthew Larke made it an all-square affair again at 7:09, and Patrick Nagorsen gave the visitors a 5-4 lead with 7:55 left in the third.

Mark Menzione answered Nagorsen's second of the game - and team-leading 10th of the year - 55 ticks later, and the game went into a scoreless overtime session. In the shootout, all five North Stars shooters came up dry, while each Phantoms entry found twine.

"Patrick and Steven played very well," Gardiner said. "It was actually a pretty good all-around team effort tonight, we just have to get over that hump. We played good hockey tonight, we just have to turn that kind of effort into a win."

Ryan Donovan worked the nets for TC, facing a whopping 56 shots while stopping 51 of them. Ryan Zapolski earned the win for the Phantoms on 36 saves. Jared Mullen and Travis Paeth had two assists each for the Stars, while Jake Erway, Zeke Costello and Nagorsen chipped in with one apiece.

Traverse City, now 9-13-4, will visit the Phantoms (15-9-2) again on Saturday. Face-off is slated for 7 p.m. The game can be seen and heard on the Mahoning Valley website's video webcast, available at www.mvpphantoms.com.

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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North American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2005


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