BOARDMAN, Ohio -- It's do or die.
Or maybe that should be do or dye.
With many Traverse City North Stars featuring dyed hair or faux hawks for the playoffs, the team looks to win its first playoff series in franchise history today.
Today's decisive Game 5 is at 7 p.m. at the Boardman Ice Zone, a different locale than the one for games 1 and 2 of the series. The best-of-five series is tied 2-2.
The Stars have only ever been in one Game 5. That came in the franchise's inaugural season, resulting in a 1-0 loss at Team USA.
In 2006, the Stars and USA each split in the other's rink before TC hit the road for a decisive Game 5.
Sound familiar?
Eerily so for Stars fans, but also keep in mind that in the USA series, Traverse City won Games 1 and 3. This year, the Phantoms have taken those games, so perhaps a switch is in order.
"I think in the first four games, one team has been more ready that the other team," North Stars head coach Anthony Palumbo said. "But I suspect both teams will be really ready tonight. Both will be doing whatever it takes."
"If you look at the two wins we had, we did pretty well offensively, as far as controlling the tempo and the number of shots and our power play was good," Mahoning Valley assistant coach Curtis Carr said. "In the two losses, Traverse City pretty much carried the play and their penalty kill was pretty strong."
The season series between the two has been a close one, with the North Stars claiming nine of 17 meetings. The Phantoms have won five of nine in Ohio.
"We predicted a tight series," Carr said. "We had an opportunity to win it up there in Traverse City. But we knew they would come out and play with a lot of emotion. We need to come out and play with a pretty high tempo, but we expect a pretty tight game again."
Friday's game wasn't close, and the Stars are looking to duplicate that recipe tonight.
"Just working hard, playing simple, getting the puck deep like we did (Friday) night," said North Stars defenseman Travis White, the only player on the team with NAHL playoff experience. "When we play that game, they can't touch us.
"The more physical we play, the more we get under their skin and they take penalties, which helps us out.
"We're just looking to get another win and move to the next round."
White leads the stars with three assists in the first four playoff games. The fundamental blueliner was a +8 in 11 games last year in St. Louis' run to the Robertson Cup before being traded to Traverse City in exchange for Clinton Bourbonais.
"Last year's team was a lot older," White said, "but this team when we do what we can we tend to do well, so I preach that."
This year's younger team has gelled, helped by making only one move all season, acquiring productive winger Tim Opie in a trade.
"Kyle Bonis has played for championships at different levels," Palumbo said. "We've got a lot of midget major guys and high school players who have been there. But I look at it as you have to start somewhere. We're on the road, so I feel we can just concentrate on the game more. I'm pretty confident we'll respond well."
While the Phantoms had a skate Saturday night, the Stars were making a seven-hour bus trip and planning on a noon skate today. Mahoning Valley left Traverse City immediately after the 4-2 loss Friday night and arrived back in Youngstown at 5 a.m.
ICE CHIPS: TC's Jarrod LaBelle has scored the only two short-handed goals of the series. ... After four games, only four Phantoms players have a positive +/- rating. The Stars have 11.
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