Wings take opener

Stars held off scoresheet in 4-0 Game 1 loss

BOX SCORE  |  SATURDAY GAME NOTES

KALAMAZOO – The Traverse City North Stars’ 2012 playoff opener was one to forget, as the host Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings scored the game’s only four goals on Friday evening at Wings West Arena – including a pair of tallies just 36 seconds apart early in the third period that blew the game open en route to a 4-0 shutout.

Kalamazoo set the tone early, scoring what turned out to be the game-winner a mere 58 seconds into the contest, added a second marker at 6:40 of the second, then piled on with the two quick-strike offerings in the final stanza.  Traverse City outshot the Wings by a 10-4 margin in the third, but could not solve K-Zoo goalie Kenneth MacLean, who stopped all 25 shots he faced on the evening.

The North Stars went 0-for-4 on the power play Friday, including a pair of opportunities three minutes apart late in the first period. Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL)made 22 saves for TC.

The series continues with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee Game 2 showdown before the series shift to Centre ICE Arena the following weekend, April 13-14.  If a decisive fifth game is required, it will take place in K-Zoo on Monday, April 16.

NAHL NORTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS

TRAVERSE CITY vs. KALAMAZOO

(Best-of-5)

GAME 1: Kalamazoo 4, Traverse City 0

GAME 2: Saturday, Apr. 7 at Kalamazoo – 2 p.m.

GAME 3: Friday, Apr. 13 at Traverse City – 7 p.m.

GAME 4: Saturday, Apr. 14 at Traverse City – 7 p.m.*

GAME 5: Monday, Apr. 16 at Kalamazoo – 7 p.m.*

*if necessary