Stars Sunk, 4-1

Published on January 10, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Traverse City North Stars News Release


TRAVERSE CITY - On a night where offensive highlights were few and far between for the host Traverse City North Stars, the Marquette Rangers took their third straight in the season series, rolling to a 4-1 victory at Centre ICE arena on Friday.

"It looked a lot like Thursday's game," lamented Stars head coach/GM Anthony Palumbo, referring to a 5-1 setback the previous night in Alpena. "Right now, our hockey I.Q. doesn't seem to be very high. We pick and choose when we're going to be good, and right now it's more bad than good."

After a Stars player accidentally knocked the puck into his own net for the only goal of the first period, Sean Burke (Traverse City, MI/ TC North Stars) took a long pass from Phil Wendecker (Westland, MI/TC North Stars) early in the second stanza, and descended unimpeded upon the Marquette net, depositing the puck in the top right corner to even the score. The Rangers struck back just over three minutes later, added an insurance marker late in the period, plus an empty- netter with 1:55 to play.

"It's just not there right now - we aren't playing with that spark, that urgency," Palumbo said. "We saw it last weekend against Mahoning, but it's the kind of thing you have to try to sustain over the course of an entire season. It can't be shift-by- shift or turning it on for a game or two and shutting it down."

Brandon Stephenson (Saline, MI/TC North Stars) made 21 saves for Traverse City, surrendering just a pair of goals - although he is officially charged with the Stars' own-goal as well.

The loss dropped the Stars to 18-9-5 and a full four points behind NAHL North Division-leading Mahoning Valley after the Phantoms topped Motor City on Friday. Marquette improved to 17-15-4. The Rangers also took an 8-4 lead in the SmithBarney Challenge Cup series with TC. The North Stars and Marquette will close out their weekend series on Saturday night. Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m.

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2009


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