Kalamazoo storms back, 5-2

Wings score four in third period

BOX SCORE  |  PHOTOS

TRAVERSE CITY – The Traverse City North Stars owned the scoreboard for a preponderance of the first three-quarters of Saturday’s series finale with the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, but the visitors fit four goals in a window of 6:49 in the third period to take home a 5-2 victory.

Kyle Schempp (Saginaw, MI/Compuware U18/Ferris State) gave Traverse City the lead just five seconds into a first period power play, a mere 7:59 into the contest. Defensemen Chris Leibinger (Saginaw, MI/TC North Stars NAHL/Michigan Tech)and JD Cotroneo (Woodbury, Mn/Des Moines USHL)assisted. After the Stars surrendered a power play goal early in the second, Seth Adams (Big Rapids, MI/Big Rapids HS/Ferris State)gave TC a 2-1 lead at 12:05 that it would take into the middle stages of the final frame before Kalamazoo combusted.

“Our will to win was not anywhere near their will to win this game,” Stars GM Anthony Palumbo lamented. “Last night (Traverse City’s 4-0 victory), we blocked a ton of shots.  We didn’t want to get in the shooting lanes as much tonight. Our commitment to defense wasn’t where it should be, and I thought we were pretty fortunate to be up 2-1.”

The Jr. K-Wings registered a power play goal, a pair of even-strength markers less than three minutes apart, and capped the spurt with an empty-netter with 1:29 to play.

Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Tri-City USHL) extended his point streak to five games with an assist on Adams’ goal; He has seven points over that span, and 10 points in his last eight outings.  Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL)made 20 saves for Traverse City.

“We weren’t good for long stretches tonight,” Palumbo added. “And we got demolished in the third period, getting off just three shots.  We missed a chance for another important two points against the team we’re chasing. They definitely deserved to win this game.”

The North Stars, now 22-16-5, trail second-place Kalamazoo by 12 points in the NAHL North Division standings. Traverse City will play host to interdivisional foe Chicago next weekend at Centre ICE for a Friday-Saturday series before a return engagement against the visiting K-Wings on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

“Whether we’re playing a team that we’re competing against for playoff position or a team from outside the division, two points are two points,” Palumbo concluded. “It doesn’t matter who they put in front of us.”