Purins nets four as Phantoms win 15th straight
December 8, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
BOARDMAN, Ohio - Janis Purins tied a team record by scoring four goals to lead the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to a 7-1 win over the Alpena Ice Diggers at the Ice Zone for their 15th consecutive win.
Brent Dexter and Chad Boeckman each assisted on three of Purins' goals, while goaltender Ryan Zapolski stopped 32 Alpena shots for his 20th win of the season. The Phantoms improved to 21-7-1 for 43 points, two more than Alpena, who fell to 20-7-1.
Purins opened the scoring in the first period on a give-and-go with Dexter. From the right goal line, Purins passed behind the net to Dexter before charging for the goal. Dexter fed back to Purins for a one-timer past goaltender Shawn Hunwick with 6:10.
They would connect again early in the second period. On a two-on-two, Dexter skated down the right wing before feeding a charging Purins with a cross-ice pass in the left circle. Purins roofed the puck high over Hunwick's right shoulder for a 2-0 lead.
A minute and 23 seconds later, Miles Winter scored his 10th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the left circle. On a Phantoms power play, he beat Hunwick high on the glove side and forced Alpena head coach Kenny Miller to pull his goaltender for the night. Hunwick was replaced by Mike Jarboe.
Less than two minutes later, Jarboe was beaten on a slap shot between the circles from Johnny Meo. It was the center's first goal as a Phantom and, at the 6:09 mark of the period, Mahoning Valley took charge leading 4-0.
Kerry Bence would get the Ice Diggers on the board after Zapolski was unable to control a live puck in front. Bence tapped the loose puck into an open net with 6:48 remaining.
But Chris Fairbanks reset the Phantoms' advantage to four goals, taking a back door pass from behind the net from Alden Hirschfeld.
Jarboe remained focused on Hirschfeld, looking behind the net over his right shoulder, as Fairbanks lifted the puck behind Jarboe before he could turn around. With 1:44 left, the Phantoms fourth goal of the period made it 5-1 on Fairbanks' 12th tally of the season.
Purins completed his hat trick early in the third period. Dexter centered a pass from the right circle, which Purins redirected in front pass the right leg of Jarboe at 1:43.
With 57.4 seconds to go in the game, Doug Leaverton threw a wrist shot from the right point that rang off the far post and onto Purins stick for a quick tap-in rebound. For the season, Purins, a native of Riga, Latvia, increased his goal production to seven.
Purins joins Aaron Rhyner as the only Phantoms to register four goals in a game. Rhyner accomplished the feat on Jan. 14, 2005 against the Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues. Purins is also the sixth player in the North American Hockey League to record four goals in a game this season.
The Phantoms out-shot Alpena 35-33. On special teams, the Phantoms were 1 for 4 on the power play, while successfully killing all six Ice Digger power play chances.
Both teams will return to the ice on Saturday to conclude their weekend series. Face-off is at 7 p.m.
The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are owned by the B.J. Alan Company- Phantom Fireworks, which is headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2006
- Purins nets four as Phantoms win 15th straight - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bobcats on the road - Bismarck Bobcats
- Tornado update - Texas Tornado
- Phantoms ride 14-game winning streak - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Alpena jumps back into first - Alpena IceDiggers
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