Saad set for big series at Ice Zone

By John Kovach

BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms will try to maintain their two-point lead over Traverse City North Stars in the North Division of the North American Hockey League, when the two teams open a three-game series Friday at the Ice Zone at 7:15 p.m.

The Phantoms (26-10-3-55 points) and North Stars (24-9-5-53) also will play at the Ice Zone Saturday at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Mahoning Valley is coming off a two-game road sweep of the Alpena IceDiggers, winning last Saturday, 9-2, behind Brandon Saad’s first hat trick of the season and Jordan Tibbett’s goaltending.

The Phantoms won last Friday, 6-1, with a balanced attack that equalled the team’s season-most goals for one game and Garrett Bartus’ goaltending.

Traverse City, meanwhile, rallied for a 2-1 win over the Motor City Machine on Saturday.

Saad (6-2, 195), whose three-goal performance included a power play goal, a short-handed goal and the eventual game-winner, boosted his season points total to 30 with a team-high 19 goals an 11 assists.

A forward from Gibsonia, Pa., who formerly played for the Pittsburgh Hornets under-18 team, Saad now is tied for second on the team in scoring with Nick Shkreli. The latter has nine goals and 21 assists.

Jordy Trottier leads the Phantoms in scoring with 33 points on 13 goals and 20 assists. Stefan Salituro is fourth with 10-16—26.

Tibbett stopped 37 shots against the IceDiggers to boost his record to 17-5-1.

Bartus missed his first shutout of the season Friday while improving his record to 9-5-2.

Saad’s three goals were one of three season-highs for Mahoning Valley, which also notched its highest goal total with nine and biggest margin of victory at seven.

The previous highs in each category were six goals in a game and a five-goal margin.

Saad, 16, said after Saturday’s game that his linemates deserve credit for helping him score his hat trick Saturday.

“It feels pretty good to get the hat trick. Our new line with Stefan Salituro and Johnny Meo is working nicely and things came together well tonight,” said Saad, who also had a goal in the Phantoms’ win Friday — his 16th of the year — to set the stage for his hat trick Saturday.

After Friday’s game, Saad recapped what he saw on the play.

“I had [Jerrod] Hartman beat wide, so I cut it back to the middle,” said Saad, “then I toe-dragged the middle defenseman to get around him. The goalie went down fast so I was able to beat him high.”

kovach@vindy.com