Phantoms rally to force overtime, then lose, 5-4

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — After rallying from a three-goal third-period deficit, the Mahoning Valley Phantoms fell 5-4 in overtime Sunday to the Traverse City North Stars.

Down 4-1, the Phantoms charged back with goals from Carl Nielsen, George Saad and Stefan Salituro to tie the game at 4-4 and force overtime.

Nielsen shelfed a give-and-go with Erik Higby on the penalty kill to bring the Phantoms to within two.

Four minutes later, George Saad slapped home a centering feed from Nick Shkreli to make it a one-goal game.

With the net empty for the Phantoms in favor of the extra attacker, Salituro buried a Robert Harrison rebound with 15 seconds left, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra frame, Traverse City’s Kyle Jean streaked behind the Phantoms’ defense on a slow clear-in, deked left on goalie Garrett Bartus and put home the game-winner with 1:52 remaining.

Traverse City grabbed an early 2-0 lead on goals from Nate Urbaniak and Chris Salomone.

Second period goals from Kyle Bonis and Eric O’Hearn helped them build the lead to 4-1 for the North Stars heading into the third.

Brandon Saad notched the lone second period marker for the Phantoms, scoring off a centering feed from Jordy Trottier on the power play.

Bartus made 20 saves in the loss for the Phantoms; Traverse City goalie Brandon Stephenson turned aside 31 Mahoning Valley attempts.

The win gives the North Stars (13-3-0, 26 points) an 8-point lead over the Phantoms (8-3-2, 18) in the North American Hockey League’s North Division.

Mahoning Valley finished the weekend with an even 1-1-1 split against the North Stars.