Cloutier keys big Phantoms' attack

The Phantoms enjoyed a four-goal third period.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN -- On a night when both defenses were downright offensive, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms used two goals by Dustin Cloutier and a four-goal third period to post a 9-5 victory and weekend sweep of the Traverse City North Stars in a North American Hockey League game Saturday night at the Ice Zone.
"All season long goalie Ryan Zapolski has bailed us out. Tonight, it was good to see our offense take charge and then take care of business. Offensively, we had good puck movement but defensively, we must play better if we expect to continue our winning ways," said Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt.
The Phantoms (31-10-1) won for the second straight time and the ninth time in 11 outings (they are 9-1-1) against Traverse City (13-23-5), winning also for the 16th time in as many outings on their home ice.
They remain the only unbeaten team at home in the NAHL.
Chad Boeckman's power play goal just 2:42 into the game staked the Phantoms to the early 1-0 lead, but the North Stars' Zach Hitch connected on his power-play connection just 1:58 later.
Cloutier gives team 3-1 lead
Both scores by Cloutier, the first at 13:24 and the second at 17:45 of the opening period, gave Mahoning Valley a 3-1 after 20 minutes.
The Phantoms' Matt Quigley needed just 1:48 into the second stanza to register his 17th goal of the season and when Nathan Longpre scored on a power play at 8:36, the Phantoms had a 5-1 margin.
Traverse City's Adam Sponseller then responded with his first goal of the year at 14:31 to cut the Mahoning Valley margin to 5-2 with one period remaining.
The best was saved for last as seven goals highlighted third period action; four scores coming off the sticks of the Phantoms.
Joe Greener scored the first of his two goals at 3:19 to cut the Phantoms' lead to 5-3, but Janis Purins' eighth goal of the year just 56 seconds later helped Mahoning Valley regain its three-goal advantage, 6-3.
Dexter scores 14th goal
Greener then added his second tally at 5:09 to cut the Phantoms' margin to 6-4, but, like they had been doing all game, the Phantoms answered the North Star charge when Brent Dexter notched his 14th goal of the season at 6:07 for a 7-4 margin.
Dexter's goal was a shorthanded score; one of seven on the night by either team when short a man or on the power play.
Eric Scovill's first score of the season at 6:42, a power-play tally, cut the Phantoms' lead to 7-5, but goals by Chris Fairbanks (14:20) and Alden Hirschfeld (18:36), both on the power play, rounded out the scoring.
Mahoning Valley has outscored Traverse City, 54-23 this season, winning all six games played at the Ice Zone.
The Phantoms will conclude their three-game home stand Tuesday night when they play host to the USA National Team at 7:05 p.m. at the Ice Zone.