Phantoms topple Traverse City
February 2, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Ryan Zapolski made 29 saves and the Mahoning Valley Phantoms received goals from five different players to defeat the Traverse City North Stars 5-1 at Centre I.C.E. Arena.
Johnny Meo and Dustin Cloutier each chipped in two assists as the Phantoms improved to 33-10-1 on the season, winning their 10th straight game against the North Stars. Traverse City fell to 15-25-5.
The Phantoms controlled the majority of the first period with numerous scoring chances, but North Stars goaltender Kyle Jendra withstood the pressure. It wasn't until late in the period when the Phantoms solved Jendra.
As a Phantoms power play expired, they maintained possession in the North Stars zone. Using Alden Hirschfeld and Brent Dexter as screens, Chad Boeckman floated a wrist shot from the right point that beat Jendra.
With 1:26 remaining in the first period, the Phantoms led 1-0 on Boeckman's 12th goal of the season. The Phantoms out-shot Traverse City 17-6 in the opening 20 minutes.
The North Stars applied pressure early in the second period, but Zapolski kept the home team scoreless. Minutes later, the Phantoms added to their lead thanks to a familiar face.
Drew Satterley, who recorded 27 goals and 28 assists for the Phantoms last season, made his first appearance this season for the orange and purple and made an immediate impact.
Forechecking in the North Stars zone, Satterley forced a turnover and fed the puck to Janis Purins. Purins used Satterley and a North Stars defenseman as a screen to fire a wrist shot between the circles and past Jendra on the stick side for his 10th goal of the season.
Purins became the 11th Phantom to record at least 10 goals this season. With 11:40 left in the second period, it was a 2-0 Phantoms lead.
Brent Dexter scored on the power play at 5:02 of the third period. Derek Graham threw the puck from the left point as Dexter charged the net. Dexter redirected the puck, which Jendra saved but could not secure. Dexter tapped home the rebound for his 16th goal of the season.
Harrison Niemann got the North Stars on the scoreboard with 5:58 remaining. On a two-on-one break, he took a cross-ice pass from Patrick Nagorsen and roofed the puck past an outstretched Zapolski. But the Phantoms snuffed any further momentum.
Off a face-off in the Phantoms zone, Eric Ringel cleared the puck out to center. Nathan Longpre out-hustled everyone to the puck and skated in uncontested against Jendra.
Once he controlled the puck, Longpre snapped a quick wrist shot between the goaltender's legs for his 18th goal of the season with 3:43 left for a 4-1 advantage.
Doug Leaverton completed the scoring with 33.2 seconds to go, after Meo cleanly won a face-off.
For the game, the Phantoms out-shot the North Stars 37-30. On the power play, the Phantoms were 1 for 9 while Traverse City finished 0 for 4.
The Phantoms and North Stars conclude their regular season series on Saturday at Centre I.C.E. Arena. Face-off is at 7 p.m. and will be webcast on www.mvpphantoms.com.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company- Phantom Fireworks, which is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 2, 2007
- Express win fourth straight - Owatonna Express
- Phantoms topple TC - Traverse City North Stars
- Phantoms topple Traverse City - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. Nat'l Under-18 Team Falls to Wayne State in Overtime, 6-5 - U.S. National Team
- Bobcats set for busy weekend - Bismarck Bobcats
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