Phantoms take to the road, look to remain atop division

By John Kovach

Mahoning Valley holds a five-game lead heading into a three-game series at Marquette.

BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms are taking to the road this week to try to preserve their five-game lead atop the standings of the North American Hockey League North Division. It’s their widest first-place margin this season.

The Phantoms, who are coming off two wins in three games at home against the second-place Traverse City North Stars to expand their lead, will play at Marquette tonight, Friday and Saturday. All games are at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeview Arena.

Mahoning Valley (28-20-4, 60 points) has the third-best record in the league. Next week, the Phantoms will return home to face the Motor City Machine. Those 7:15 p.m. games are Feb. 19-20 at the Chevrolet Centre.

Marquette (19-20-5, 43) is fifth in the league.

Coach Bob Mainhardt’s Phantoms have been achieving success behind a multi-player offensive attack, swarming defense, strong goaltending and the capability to come from behind.

In the three recent games against Traverse City (25-11-5, 55) at the Ice Zone, Mahoning Valley won 4-1 on Friday; lost Saturday in overtime, 6-5, after rallying from a 4-1 deficit; and then cruised to a 5-1 win Sunday, to give them five points for the series.

Alex Lippincott had two goals in the 4-1 win, Jordy Trottier the tying goal in regulation in the waning seconds of the 6-5 loss in OT, and Nick Kenney a hat trick in the 5-1 victory to pace the Phantoms.

Kenney, who had four goals in the three-game series, was named the NAHL North Division player of the week for the second time this season.

Kenney’s other goal triggered the Phantoms’ 4-1 rally that eventually tied the game and forced overtime before they fell short.

Kenney, who has 13 goals with 11 assists for 24 points, said that despite all the offense Sunday, the Phantoms won the series finale with defense.

“We played really well on defense,” said Kenney, a native of Wixom, Mich. “We got away from that a little [on Saturday] but we came back and locked down in the third game. The physical game was important too because we know [the North Stars] don’t like to get hit and turn it over if you start checking them.”

Kenney has been outstanding since the start of the new year with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points, including 10 against the North Stars.

He said the high stakes of playing second-place Traverse City helped him to elevate his game, particularly on Sunday.

“We know we’re going to see [the North Stars] in the playoffs,” Kenney said, “so we all knew we had to step up and get that second win.

“We wanted to play good defense and be physical, too, because that’s what you need to do to beat a team like [Traverse City].”

Kenney also was the North Division player of the week on Jan. 5 following a three-goal, three-assist weekend against Traverse City.

The Phantoms have won four of the six weekly honors for 2009. Brandon Saad won the award on Jan. 12 and Feb. 2.

Goalie Jordan Tibbett, who got the Phantoms’ two wins over Traverse City, gained honorable mention for the NAHL goalie of the week award. He made 47 saves and gave up only two goals.

Tibbett is 19-5-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average while Garrett Bartus is 9-5-3 with a 3.40 GAA.

kovach@vindy.com