Stars blank USA for seventh straight win

Published on March 5, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - Just another night at the rink for the Traverse City North Stars.

Coming off a 4-0 blanking of the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-17 squad last Wednesday in Ann Arbor - the Stars' franchise-first shutout in 173 tries - Chris Paliafito (Shelbyville, KY/Indiana USHL) tossed a second straight goose egg at the U-17s on Tuesday night at Centre ICE arena, as Traverse City scored a 1-0 overtime victory over Team USA.

Paliaifto's mastery on Tuesday - coupled with Brandon Stephenson's 60-minute gem last week - means the North Stars have kept the Under-17s off the scoreboard over the last 181-plus minutes of regulation/overtime action between the clubs.

"Chris was just outstanding again tonight," beamed TC head coach/ GM Anthony Palumbo. "He and Brandon have been huge factors in our recent success. Tonight was another example of that. Chris made an unbelievable glove save just 20 seconds into overtime tonight that allowed us to go down to the other end and get the winning goal."

That game-winner - the only tally of the entire contest - came at 2:59 off the stick of defenseman Tyler Stephens (Rockford, MI/Blind River NOJHL), who collected a bounding puck near the crease and flipped it past U-17 netkeep Nick Maricic to send the rare weekday throng home happy. The Stars outshot the visitors by a 26-24 count, holding USA to just five attempts in each of the first and third periods.

"We've been in - and lost - enough games in overtime and the shootout that we've told the guys to play the OT to win, and not to sort of lay back and play defense until the shootout," Palumbo explained. "With it being a four-on-four situation in overtime, you have to pick your spots for the third guy, usually a defenseman, to move up and join the attack. Tyler picked a good spot for it tonight."

Stephens' fifth goal of the season came off an Alex Breeden (Ft. Collins, CO/North Iowa NAHL) laser from the point, while reigning NAHL North Player of the Week Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, ONT/Indiana USHL) also drew an assist. Breeden has eight points this season - four of which have come in his last seven games, while Bonis has eight points in over his last three contests.

Traverse City (21-19-11) has claimed a franchise-record seven straight games, nine of its last 10, and is a sterling 10-1-3 since Jan. 24. While the Stars went 0-for-3 on the power play Tuesday, the team has climbed to second in the NAHL in man-advantage efficiency at an even 20 percent.

With Tuesday's victory, the Stars sit alone in the fourth and final playoff spot in the NAHL North Division, two points ahead of Marquette and four up on Team USA. The U-17/18s still have four games in hand, which they will spend this weekend, as the U-17s visit Alpena and the Under-18 squad hosts first-place St. Louis for two games each. The North Stars are off until a March 14-16 series at Mahoning Valley.

"It's hard to keep that edge when you're off for so long, but that's our job as coaches to help keep the guys focused," Palumbo surmised. "We'll do our workouts and some dry land training, but at this point in the season, I think the guys know what's on the line."

Paliafito obstructed all 24 shots he faced on Tuesday to improve to 9-6-6 on the season, brought his goals-against average below three (2.94) and goal-against average above .900 (.901). He is 6-0-3 in his last nine starts, and has conceded two goals or less 11 times this year.

"He got some pretty solid defensive play in front of him, but Chris was brilliant once again," Palumbo added. "In fact, our two goalies are playing as well as anyone in the league right now."

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 5, 2008


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