Stars rebound for 4-2 win

Rivard, Murphy pace bounceback effort

BOX SCORE  |  SUNDAY GAME NOTES

JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – The Traverse City North Stars turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 victory on Saturday evening at Jamestown Savings Bank Arena with a trio of third period power play markers, claiming the middle contest of a three-game series that concludes on Sunday afternoon after a 4-3 loss in Friday's opener.

After a scoreless first period, the Stars grabbed the lead 5:02 into the second when Chris Waterstreet (Northville, MI/TC North Stars NAHL)redirected a Zack Dorer (Saginaw, MI/Des Moines USHL/Ferris State)shot into the Jamestown net. A pair of late goals by the hosts, however, put Traverse City in a 2-1 hole at the second intermission.

It didn’t take long for the third frame trifecta to commence, as Seth Adams (Big Rapids, MI/Big Rapids HS/Ferris State)point-blanked a perfect feed from Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Tri-City USHL)just 1:51 in. The Stars drew a tripping penalty on the play, and brought out an extra attacker for a protracted sequence, making it a de facto power play tally.

During an extended 5-on-3 power play, Traverse City captain Jared Van Wormer (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL)delivered a perfect pass to the far post that Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL)slammed home at 13:24 for what became the game-winner; Rivard dished to Nathan Harris (Fowlerville, MI/Lansing Capitals U18)for an insurance marker four minutes later to seal the triumph. Harris’ eighth of the year came on a precision wrister from the point with the North Stars on a traditional power play.

Murphy assisted on a pair of goals, while Kyle Schempp (Saginaw, MI/Compuware U18/Ferris State)and Chris Leibinger (Saginaw, MI/TC North Stars NAHL/Michigan Tech) added one each.Zach Nagelvoort (Holland, MI/Kalamazoo NAHL)stopped 18 shots for the North Stars.

With the victory, TC improved to 28-17-6 and remain six points behind second-place Kalamazoo in the NAHL North Division standings in the chase for the final home-ice playoff seed. The Jr. K-Wings scored a 3-2 win over Springfield on Saturday.

The North Stars and Ironmen will close out their three-game weekend on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.