Phantoms net shootout win over N. Stars

Chad Boeckman connected for the winning goal.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — Chad Boeckman’s goal in the shootout session helped lift the Mahoning Valley Phantoms to a 5-4 decision over the Traverse City North Stars in North American Hockey League action Friday at the Ice Zone.

While Boeckman was credited with the deciding tally (his fourth game-winning goal), give the unlikely assist to back-up goalie Jordan Tibbett whose shot suggestion prior to Boeckman taking the ice proved to be really sound advice.

“Jordan [Tibbett] told me that I should try to deke the goalie first and then take the shot, which proved to be the right thing to do because he bit on my fake,” Boeckman said. “That allowed me to then lift the puck past his outstretched arm.

“This was a nice win, but the game should never have gone as deep as it did,” Boeckman said. “We need to play a full 60 minutes, but credit Traverse City because they just kept coming at us all night long.”

The Phantoms (27-13-4, 58 points) took the early goal advantage when Brent Dexter’s 18th tally of the season found the back of the North Stars’ net at 6:33 of the opening period.

Nate Urbaniak’s team-leading 19th goal for Traverse City (14-19-11, 38 points) just 42 seconds later knotted the game at 1-all, but Mahoning Valley regained the lead heading to the first intermission when Nick Kenney’s wrister broke the North Stars crease at 14:56.

A second period goal by Miles Winter (15:08) and third period score by Derek Carr (4:25) then gave the Phantoms a 4-1 lead, but that is when the North Stars comeback began to materialize.

For Carr, it was his second goal of the season.

“Give Traverse City credit,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said. “They worked hard, kept coming at us and just kept the pressure on us all night. We have to work on protecting our lead and must be better on our power play opportunities.

“With only 15 regular season games remaining every win is a big win,” Mainhardt said.

“While we aren’t looking at the standings, we are looking to finish strong each and every time we hit the ice.”

Three unanswered goals by Traverse City, the first two coming off the stick of Kyle Bonis (5:56 and 7:42) and the final score on a slap shot by Korey Kaunisto, was enough to force the extra session.

Kaunisto’s goal came with 25 seconds remaining in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime period, Traverse City’s Jarrod Labelle and Urbaniak scored during the shootout while Grant Blakey and Brent Dexter registered for Mahoning Valley during their first five attempts of the shootout.

Phantom goalie Garrett Bartus then stopped offerings from the North Stars’ Tyler Stephens and Kyle Jean.

After Johnny Meo failed to score on Mahoning Valley’s sixth attempt, Boeckman nailed the game-winner on the team’s seventh try of the shootout.

The Phantoms held a 39-36 shot advantage while neither team could get their power play in gear; Traverse City connecting just once on six opportunities while Mahoning Valley was one of nine when faced with the man advantage.

These same two teams will play the final game of their weekend series tonight at 7:15 at the Ice Zone.