Phantoms improve to 15-7-1 after victory

Mahoning Valley has a team-record nine-game winning streak.
BOARDMAN -- Derek Graham recorded a goal and an assist and goaltender Ryan Zapolski made 33 saves to lead the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to a 3-1 win over the Traverse City North Stars at the Ice Zone Saturday night.
The Phantoms (15-7-1) extended their team-record winning streak to nine games and closed to within two points of Alpena in the North American Hockey League's North Division.
Traverse City (7-13-3) extended its winless streak to 11 games (0-9-2).
Intangibles
"These players have been doing the little things, which is tough for a young group such as ours," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. "But they have been playing unbelievable defense, which has been a major part of our effort."
Graham scored the game's first goal at the two-minute mark of the first period. He took goal-line pass from Alden Hirschfeld and floated a wrist shot from the left circle behind goaltender Kyle Jendra. It was Graham's fifth goal of the season.
"I've been moving my feet, looking up and skating hard," Graham said. "I'm getting more involved in the play and I've surrounded myself with a great group of guys."
Matthew Larke tied the game for Traverse City at the 14:12 mark of the opening period. He took a deflected pass in the left circle, skated towards the slot and used a Phantoms defenseman as a screen to beat Zapolski low on the short, stick side.
After a scoreless second period, The Phantoms took the lead off a turnover in the neutral zone to create a two-on-one break. Dustin Cloutier fed a pass cross-ice to Miles Winter in the left circle, as Jendra came out to play Cloutier.
Eighth goal
Winter wristed the puck home for his eighth goal of the season and his third goal in two games. At 6:06 of the third period, the Phantoms led 2-1.
The Phantoms scored a huge insurance goal on the power play. Harrison Niemann was called for roughing after play was whistled dead with 3:25 remaining. A minute and six seconds later, Graham found Chad Boeckman in the left circle, who beat a defenseless Jendra for goal number five on the season.
"Traverse City played very hard and a little desperate this weekend. We had to keep moving to stay with them before we could take over," Graham said.