Phantoms expect a tough playoff vs. Traverse City

By Tom Williams

The first two games of the best-of-five series will be played at the Chevrolet Centre.

BOARDMAN — The last time that the Mahoning Valley Phantoms and Traverse City North Stars hooked up, the three games at the Chevrolet Centre were different.

The Phantoms opened the series on March 13 with a 9-2 blowout win. After the North Stars rebounded for a 4-1 victory, the visitors won the series with a 3-2 victory.

Phantoms forward Jordan Trottier says fans most likely will see tight games like that third one when the Phantoms and North Stars open the North American Hockey League playoffs on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Chevrolet Centre.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series will begin there on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Trottier, who scored 46 points during the regular season, said the postseason style “is a change from regular season — it gets a lot tighter.

“Defenses are way stronger, scoring opportunities are less,” the Phantoms’ third-leading scorer said. “It tightens up because every goal can determine the outcome.

“We expect a hard game from Traverse City. There have been close battles every time we’ve played them,” Trottier said. “We’re excited to have the home ice advantage at the start — it’s going to play well into our hands.”

Of the NAHL’s eight opening round series, Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt expects this one to be the most competitive.

“It’s going to be a great series,” Mainhardt said. “We’ve both proven that we’re two of the top teams in the league, not necessarily just in the North Division but in the NAHL. There’s going to be some great first-round action.”

Defenseman Trevor Shively said the North Stars “are a high-skilled team. Every time we’ve faced them, it’s been a rough weekend. They’ve played well against us most of the time. They play the body.”

Defenseman Carl Nielsen admits the Phantoms have chips on their shoulders after falling out of first place last weekend.

“It’s a little disappointing to lose first place in the last two games of the season,” Nielsen said. “It’s our own fault.

“We can use that as motivation because we want to play [Team] USA in the second round to let them know that the regular season was a fluke,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen said the Nationals will be using their 17-year-old players the rest of the way.

“They had the 18s on their side but it’s going to be a little different come playoffs,” Nielsen said.

By winning its final five games, Team USA overtook the Phantoms to win the North Division by two points. Traverse City finished two points behind the Phantoms.

“We’ve been involved in some tight races,” Mainhardt said, “but for a race for the top that’s about as tight as it’s been.

“I think you could say that we’ve got the best first-round matchup for the fans and the excitement level,” Mainhardt said. “We had a real tight regular season series with Traverse City and I would expect the playoffs to be the same.”

In the regular season, the Phantoms posted a 6-4-3 record against the North Stars.

Mainhardt said Kyle Bonis and Kyle Jean are the North Stars to watch.

“Their other top-line games have played well against us but those are definitely guys that we’ll have to control if we plan to have success,” said the coach.

Nielsen expects a close series.

“We’ve gone back and forth with them all year, up there and down here,” Nielsen said. “We ended up splitting, getting [about] 15 points each from each other.

“They’ve got some good players who can put the puck into the net. If we work hard, if we play our game, there’s no one in this league who is going to stop us. We’ve just got to come ready to play.”

williams@vindy.com