Stars Slip Past Michigan in Shootout, 4-3

Published on January 6, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


FLINT - After 65 minutes of crisply-paced, up-and-down hockey, it was a knuckleball that proved to be the difference on Friday evening at Perani Arena, as Alexander Taulien levied the game-winner for the Traverse City North Stars in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Michigan Warriors.

Taulien (Crystal Lake, IL/TC North Stars NAHL) led off the seventh round of the shootout session, stickhandled through the slot, and lost control of the puck as he neared the crease. However, the puck had just enough impetus to find its way between the pads of Warriors goalie Robert Tadazak for what turned out to be the decisive blow in an otherwise level affair. TC netminder Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL) slammed the door on the bottom of the seventh round, preserving the triumph.

Nathan Harris (Fowlerville, MI/Lansing Capitals U18) opened the scoring with his third goal in the last two games, blasting the puck through traffic from the point. Michigan responded just over a minute later, then proceeded to build a two-goal lead by the second intermission with a pair of middle-frame tallies.

The first three minutes of the third stanza proved pivotal, as Taulien cut the Stars' deficit to a single goal 60 seconds in, and Mitchell Snider (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) delivered the equalizer 1:59 later. The rest of contest featured a bevy of scoring chances for both clubs, including a pair of breakaways and a 3-on-1 rush for the Warriors that were deftly thwarted by Laslo, who finished with 25 saves.

Added to the roster only Friday afternoon, Kyle Haak (Okemos, MI/Lansing Capital U18) made his North Stars debut a memorable one, assisting on goals by Harris and Taulien. Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Tri-City USHL) also set up Harris' fourth of the year, while Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) drew the lone assist on Snider's score.

The Stars, now 16-9-4, assumed sole possession of third place in the NAHL North Division standings, and are just two points behind second-place Kalamazoo with three games in-hand over the K-Wings. Traverse City and Michigan will finish their two-game series with a 7 p.m. face-off on Saturday at Perani, then the Stars will visit first-place Port Huron in a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.

Traverse City will return to Centre ICE Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 17 for the 'Sticks and Steaks' event against Kalamazoo. The occasion, part of The Fox-FM and You-FM's Chef Tours, features a gourmet pregame dinner in the Centre ICE community room prepared by Executive Chef Eric Nittolo of The Boathouse restaurant, with wine pairings by Bowers Harbor Vineyards.

The dinner menu consists of shrimp cocktail, wedge salad with house-cured bacon and loaded bleu cheese dressing, and Prime rib with roasted garlic potato puree. A dessert of tiramisu truffle will be served in the Scouts' Lounge during the first intermission. To register for the dinner, visit 943thefoxfm.com or 1067youfm.com. For more info, visit traversecitynorthstars.com.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 6, 2012


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