NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE Phantoms dominate North Stars in sweep

The Phantoms trail the U.S. National Team by four points for the division lead.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- The North American Hockey League playoffs start in less than four weeks, and the Traverse City North Stars are closing in on the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division.
They would have earned a postseason ticket by now if it weren't for the Mahoning Valley Phantoms.
Mike Maltese, Anthony Ciraulo and Matt Atsoff each scored twice as the Phantoms concluded their regular season dominance of the North Stars with a 7-4 win and a weekend sweep at Centre Ice Arena.
Maltese added an assist as he, Craig Dulman (goal and two assists) and Bret Larson (three assists) shared game-high honors with three points. The Phantoms (31-16-4) also extended their road-winning streak to six games.
Traverse City controlled the start of the game but had nothing to show for it.
In fact, the Phantoms didn't get their first shot on goal until the six-minute mark when they were shorthanded.
But when North Stars center Jared Mullen was called for slashing at the 9:25 mark of the first period, it immediately triggered the Phantoms.
Jacob Roadhouse cleanly won the ensuing faceoff back to Dulman. His one-timer from the high slot beat goaltender Ryan Donovan, just three seconds into the power play, and the Phantoms had a 1-0 lead.
What happened next
Just 12 seconds later, the Phantoms struck again. The puck was dumped in behind the Traverse City goal. Donovan retreated behind his net to control the puck but had trouble and lost his balance.
He collided with a North Stars defenseman, and Matt Quigley pursued the loose puck. His wraparound attempt toward the open net was blocked. But he recovered the puck and found Maltese charging into the slot. His wrister beat Donovan over the right shoulder, and the Phantoms led 2-0.
Ciraulo made it 3-0 with a power play goal at 13:02, but Traverse City added its own man-advantage goal to make it 3-1 at 14:13. A little over two minutes later, the North Stars scored again to make it 3-2.
The Phantoms scored three times in the second period, by Maltese Atsoff and Ciraulo (a short-handed goal) to make it 6-2.
Atsoff's second goal, his ninth of the season, was scored nearly in the same spot as his first and came at the 3:00 mark of the third. Mullen and Brett Engelbright scored goals for Traverse City (15-33-6).
The Phantoms outshot the North Stars 35-33, as Bryce Merriam stopped 31 to improve to 12-6-0.
The Phantoms trail Cleveland by two points for second place in the division and by four points to the U.S. National Team for the division lead.
The Barons return to Boardman this weekend for games Friday and Saturday at The Ice Zone.
Game time is 7 p.m. for both.