Phantoms led by Urbaniak

Nate Urbaniak’s hat trick and goalie Chris Paliafito’s defense led a 4-2 victory.

By GREG GULAS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

BOARDMAN — Nate Urbaniak’s hat trick and four point night, and a solid performance by Chris Paliafito in goal helped lift the Traverse City North Stars to a 4-2 victory over the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in a North American Hockey League game Saturday at the Ice Zone.

The win helped the North Stars (15-19-11, 41 points) earn a split in their weekend series with Mahoning Valley (27-14-4, 58 points) as they earned three of the four possible points.

Coming off a bye week, Traverse City swept the third-place Alpena Ice Diggers two weeks ago and has now won three of their last four outings.

They won for just the fourth time (4-12-6) in 22 road outings this season.

“I was more than a little concerned coming here after a bye week. We played so well and won both games prior to that against Alpena, I just felt like it was a terrible time for us to have a break in our schedule,” North Stars coach Anthony Palumbo said.

“Anytime you can come to the Ice Zone and take three of the four possible points, consider it a successful weekend. We started out slow but played solid at both ends of the ice over the last four periods.

“Mahoning Valley is an excellent team with plenty of great players. For that very reason I hate going up against their power play. Fortunately, our penalty kill was working for us all weekend,” he added.

Traverse City got on the board first when Urbaniank connected on the first of his three goals at 10:06 of the opening period.

His tally was also one of two power play opportunities and one of three on the night for Traverse City.

The North Stars held the goal advantage heading to the first intermission despite being outshot by the Phantoms in the period, 14-9.

Urbaniak stepped up the scoring pace in the second period when he scored his team best 22nd and 23rd goals of the season (the former coming at 7:48 and the latter, his second power play of the game at 12:55), giving the North Stars a 3-0 cushion.

When Kory Kaunisto notched his second goal of the weekend and his fifth of the year at 16:18, Traverse City had built a 4-0 lead heading to the final period of play.

For Urbaniak, who assisted on Kaunisto’s goal, his six-point weekend was tops for either team.

“I felt really good in both games. Having a bye last weekend really helped my legs because they felt fresh both nights,” Urbaniak said.

“My teammates gave me plenty of opportunities. Earning three of four points against the Phantoms is big because we are still in the playoff picture. We just need to string together a few more victories and let the chips fall where they may,” he added.

The Phantoms, who have not been shutout this season, avoided the dreaded doughnut in the final period when Kyle Verbeek notched his sixth goal of the season 5:29 to cut the margin to 4-1.

Chad Boeckman and Scott Moser then found Nick Kenney for his fifth goal of the season, but it was too little, too late as they fell to 14-6-1 at the Ice Zone.

“We got outworked tonight, it’s as simple as that. Take your hats off to Traverse City for their effort this weekend. They earned three of the four points by winning the last 80 minutes that were played,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said.

The North Stars held a 38-32 shot advantage, converting 3-of-8 power play opportunities.

Mahoning Valley was just 1-of-6 and 2-of-15 for the weekend when sporting the man advantage.

The Phantoms will play a two-game series at North Division leading St. Louis next Saturday and Sunday.