Mahoning Valley doubles up TC, 6-3

The Mahoning Valley Phantoms scored goals in a variety of ways on Sunday at The Ice Zone, but most importantly they scored twice as many as the visiting North Stars in a 6-3 NAHL North Division tilt. The Phantoms scored three even-strength goals, a power play tally, and two shorthanded conversions on a whopping 59 shots. Traverse City answered with a goal to cap each of the three periods, but couldn’t match the offensive barrage of the hosts.

Mike Maltese scored thrice for the Phantoms (19-9-3) – one at even strength, one with the man advantage and the last when Mahoning Valley was down a man. Anthony Ciraulo gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead just 3:56 into the first period, but Ryan Bond netted his second in as many nights for the Stars to make it 1-1 at the first intermission. Brett Englebright and Eric Elmblad drew assists for TC (10-17-4).

Maltese scored two straight to open the second period before Milan Drevenak scored the first of his two goals at 10:08 of the second to make it 4-1. Matt Larke pulled the Stars to within 4-2 with 1:28 to play until the second intermission on assists from Jonathan Juliano and Patrick Nagorsen, but Drevenak and Maltese put the game out of reach with goals at 4:46 and 12:29, respectively.

Jake Erway (pictured above right) recorded Traverse City’s final goal with 2:28 left in regulation – also from Juliano and Nagorsen – but the three-goal showing wasn’t enough. Jeremy Kaleniecki faced the 59 Phantoms shots and stopped 53 of them. Bryce Merriam snuffed 33 of the 36 Stars attempts faced.

Traverse City, which has won just one of 15 road contests all season, will play three games this week, including Thursday and Friday contests at the Team USA U-17's in Ann Arbor, and a Sunday evening affair in Alpena.