Sunday, January 20, 2008
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are proving to be the not-so-perfect Showcase 2008 hosts, winning for the second consecutive night in a North American Hockey League game at the Ice Zone.
Brent Dexter, Chad Boeckman and Alden Hirschfeld each scored a goal as the Phantoms overcame an early 1-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory over North Division rival Traverse City.
“Tonight was a real battle for us. Both teams wanted it badly and battled the entire game,” Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said.
“There were two keys to the victory. First, we were able to shut down their power play and secondly, we had a few timely goals of our own. These are the games that you have to win. Both teams really worked hard tonight,” he added.
The win, which featured 21 penalties, enabled the Phantoms (22-10-3) to keep pace with the red hot Alpena Ice Diggers (23-12-2) for second-place in the North Division.
Alpena defeated league-leading St. Louis, 6-2 earlier in the day.
Traverse City (11-16-8) drew first blood when Kyle Jean, playing in just his fourth game with the North Stars, netted his first goal of the season, a power play opportunity at 7:23 for the early goal advantage.
When Dexter converted on a power play just 1:14 later, the Phantoms forged a 1-all tie heading to the second period.
Boeckman gave Mahoning Valley the lead for good just 43 seconds into the second stanza, an acrobatic netter with assists from both Scott Moser and Miles Winter.
It was the only tally by either team in the period.
Alden Hirschfeld’s 13th goal of the season at 8:05 of the final period increased the Phantoms’ lead to 3-1, but Clinton Bourbonais’ slap shot sailed past the Mahoning Valley crease at 11:11 to cut the Phantoms’ lead to 3-2.
That would be the closest they would get the rest of the way.
Traverse City outshot the Phantoms, 27-24 as Garrett Bartus rejected 25 North Stars’ shots for his 15th win of the season.
In other action Saturday, Alpena won for the second straight day while St. Louis now split their two showcase outings.
Mike DeGrazia scored twice as the Ice Diggers built a 2-1 lead after one period, extended their lead to 5-1 after two periods on goals by Andy Yarber, DeGrazia and Erik Peterson and then coasted to their four-goal victory.
The win snapped St. Louis’ (29-7-1) four-game win streak as the Bandits lost for just the second time in 12 outings.
Also, the U.S. Nationals (17-17-2) climbed back to .500 with a 2-0 whitewashing of Marquette.
Goals by Chris Brown and Kyle Palmieri proved to be the difference as Team USA outshot the Rangers, 33-26.
Goalie Adam Murray notched his fifth win of the season by rejecting all 26 Marquette shots.
The Phantoms will take on Marquette at 7:30 tonight, while Alpena meets Team USA at noon and Traverse City plays high-scoring St. Louis at 4 p.m. at the Ice Zone.