Burke, Urbaniak lead North Stars' win

FROM STAFF REPORTS

January 31, 2009 12:00 am

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Nate Urbaniak and Sean Burke scored two goals each Friday as the Traverse City North Stars beat Motor City 5-1 to keep within two points of division leader Mahoning Valley.

"A lot of our goals game in traffic," North Stars coach/GM Anthony Palumbo said, "but Burke's just came from hard work."

Urbaniak put the Stars (23-9-5) up 6:20 into the opening period, off Kyle Bonis and Tyler Stephens assists.

Former North Star Adam Sponseller evened the game 2:12 later, but Eric O'Hearn's power-play goal off a Kyle Jean assist near the middle of the second started a streak of three straight scores with the man advantage.

Urbaniak scored again 1:14 into the third and Burke's seventh goal of the season made it 4-1 with 9:22 remaining.

Burke added another goal off Jarrod LaBelle and Chris Salomone helpers just 10 seconds later.

Bonis, the reigning North Division Player of the Week, and Jean had two assists each.

The Stars finished 3-for-8 on the power play, while holding the Machine (6-30-1) to 1-for-6.

"I know it looks good in the stats, but it need to improve," Palumbo said of the power play.

C.J. Motte -- coming off winning the league's Goaltender of the Week award -- made 25 saves on 26 shots. Motte is now 13-4-2 this season and has won five straight starts.

"Brandon (Stephenson) had a really good run early in the season and C.J. is on a good run right now," Palumbo said, "but we need them both."

The Stars and Machine tangle again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Centre ICE.

Mahoning Valley (25-10-3) defeated Alpena 6-1 to stay atop the North Division.