Phantoms post 15th home win
Mahoning Valley scored a 6-1 decision over Traverse City Friday at the Ice Zone.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- Dropping two of three outings last weekend (after going 24-2 in their previous 26 games) might just have been the wakeup call the Mahoning Valley Phantoms ice hockey team needed.
A goal and at least one assist by six different players plus another stellar outing in goal by Ryan Zapolski help lift the Phantoms to a 6-1 decision Friday over the Traverse City North Stars in North American Hockey League action at the Ice Zone.
Unbeaten at home
The win, the 15th in a row at home for the Phantoms, leaves Mahoning Valley as the league's only remaining undefeated team on their own ice.
"It great to be back home, but you have to remember that we also got a little healthier since last weekend with a return to the line-up by both Doug Leaverton and newcomer Mike Sturdevant," Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said.
"I'd like to think that we have good depth and that definitely showed tonight as we spread around our scoring.
"We've had good fortune at home this season and success against Traverse City," Mainhardt said. "The final score was not indicative of their play, however. They go hard and come at you all 60 minutes and I expect that same type of play tomorrow night."
Traverse City scores first
Joe Greener got Traverse City on the board first at 7:43 of the opening period. It would be the only lead that the North Stars would enjoy the entire night.
Alden Hirschfeld's 11th goal of the season, a power-play opportunity at 13:36 knotted the game at a goal apiece and when Dustin Cloutier notched his team-leading 23rd score of the season at 16:53, a short handed goal, he staked the Phantoms to a 2-1 lead heading to the second period.
Brent Dexter's goal at 7:07 made it 3-1. When Miles Winter (10:10) and Derek Graham (power play at 18:26) found the back of the net in the period as well, Mahoning Valley built a 4-1 lead .
One of the assists on Winter's goal was by Sturdevant; a newcomer who was playing in just his second game with the Phantoms after starting the campaign with Traverse City and cut eight games into the season.
"I started the season with the North Stars, got released and was playing with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the U.S.H.L. before getting the call from the Phantoms. It sure is nice to be with a team that has the best overall record in the league; one that is challenging for the title," Sturdevant said.
"Coach [Bob] Mainhardt is giving me a chance to prove myself so hopefully I can finish the season here and make a trip to Alaska and the nationals in the spring."
Final Phantom goal
Nathan Longpre's goal for the Phantoms at 11:30 of the final period rounded out the scoring.
"We couldn't get a bounce tonight, making some huge mental mistakes that proved very costly," North Stars head coach Scott Gardiner said. "Give credit to [Ryan] Zapolski. Everything that we threw at him he rejected."
Zapolski rejected all but one of Traverse City's 32 shots on goal, notching his league-leading 29th win (he is 29-7-1 in 37 games this season) as Mahoning Valley was outshot in the contest, 32-29.
The Phantoms (30-10-1, 61 points) won for the eighth time in 10 outings this season against the North Stars), having outscored them 45-20 overall
They remain the top team in the loop with 61 points.
Traverse City (13-22-5, 31 points) fell to 4-12-3 in 19 road games this year.
They will play again tonight at 7.