Published: March 12, 2009 08:00 pm      

Mahoning Valley crushes Stars, 9-2

Phantoms score 7 unanswered goals for win

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- NAHL North Division front-runner Mahoning Valley handed third-place Traverse City a 9-2 drubbing on Friday.

The Phantoms (34-12-5) scored seven unanswered goals against the North Stars (28-17-6).

After Mahoning Valley led 2-0 after the first period, Kyle Bonis and Nathan Urbaniak scored early in the second to make it 2-2. Both were on power plays as Urbaniak also assisted the Bonis goal.

The Phantoms quickly responded with three goals in the period and added four more in the third for the run-away win.

TC goalie Brandon Stephenson took the loss with 24 saves. On the other side, Jordan Tibbett made 26 saves for Mahoning Valley.

The two teams will square off again today at 7:15 before meeting Sunday at 3 p.m. in their final showdown of the regular season.

Traverse City only has seven more games left in the regular season.