Stars downed in OT, 2-1

March 5, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


MARQUETTE - History favors Marquette in overtime. For the sixth time in the four-year history of the rivalry - and third time this season - the Traverse City North Stars dropped an overtime contest in Marquette.

On Friday, the host Rangers converted a neutral zone turnover into a game-clinching goal 1:38 into the extra session at Lakeview Arena. Marquette put an extra point between itself and the second-place North Stars with the victory, giving the Rangers a two-point cushion in the NAHL North Division standings.

"I was happy with how we played," surmised Traverse City head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo. "It was probably our best game in a month or more, but we didn't get the puck to the net often enough, and they played very well too. It was a good game, and for whatever reason, we can't seem to buy a win up here in overtime."

Marquette (30-18-1) got on the board first, as Andrew Kolb stuffed home a rebound 12:47 into the contest. After a scoreless middle frame, Kyle Jean (Sault Ste. Marie, MI/TC North Stars/Lake Superior St.) evened things up 7:40 into the third, deflecting a Nilan Nagy (Canonsburg, PA/Pittsburgh Predators U18) blast into the back of the net. Kolb also netted the game-winner.

Drew Strandberg (Thunder Bay, ONT/Thunder Bay SIJHL) stopped 31 of 33 shots, while Marquette counterpart Kevin Kissaw made 30 saves.

"It was a well-played game," Palumbo added. "Both teams got good goaltending, but despite the number of shots on the scoresheet, there weren't a ton of quality chances getting through for either team."

The teams will collide again on Saturday night at Lakeview, the first of five meetings between the teams in the regular season's final four weeks. Six of the Stars' final nine regular season games are at Centre ICE arena, including a pair of Wednesday affairs - March 10 against Alpena and on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) versus Motor City.



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