Stars force, fall in OT

Toman, Rivard tally late in regulation

BOX SCORE  |  WEDNESDAY GAME NOTES

KALAMAZOO – Staring at a 3-1 deficit with two minutes to play on Sunday afternoon at Wings West Area, things looked bleak for the Traverse City North Stars as they tried to complete a weekend sweep against the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings.

In a span of 15 seconds, Michal Toman (Prievidza, Slovakia/TC North Stars NAHL)and Eric Rivard (Traverse City, MI/TC North Stars NAHL) had knotted the game, the equalizer coming with just 1:11 on the clock. The hosts scored the game-winner 3:18 into overtime, but the Stars snatched a point from an otherwise desperate scenario.

“Yes, it was good to get the point, but unfortunately we didn’t gain on them this weekend,” said Stars head coach Chad Fournier. “With the exception of one 10-15 minute stretch we played a good hockey game, and had a lot of chances, especially early on.  But to look at being down 3-1 and getting to the overtime the way we did, there’s certainly something positive to take away from that.”

The Jr. K-Wings scored the only goal of the first period, and grabbed a 2-0 lead 8:24 into the second before the north Stars got on the board. Chris Leibinger (Saginaw, MI/TC North Stars NAHL/Michigan Tech) delivered his third of the season on an unassisted effort with 56 seconds left in the middle frame.

Kalamazoo made it a 3-1 affair with 5:35 remaining in regulation, touching off the visitors’ late flurry. Toman released a blast from the point that found twice with 1:26 left and Traverse City on the power play, while Rivard collected a loose puck on his forehand side and stuffed it home 15 ticks later with goalie Kyle Laslo (Fenton, MI/Osoyoos KIJHL)off for the extra attacker.

Sean Murphy (Cary, NC/Tri-City USHL), who had a goal and an assist in Friday’s win at Kalamazoo, assisted on Toman’s rocket, while Nathan Harris (Fowlerville, MI/Lansing Capitals U18)set up Rivard.

At 26-16-6, the North Stars still trail second-place Kalamazoo in the North Division standings by eight points, but retain four games in-hand.  The teams are very likely first-round playoff opponents, but the race for second place – and home-ice advantage – is still in play.

“It makes every single game that much more important,” Fournier added. “We go to Michigan on Wednesday, and that’s a team that is fighting to make sure they get in (the playoffs), then we have a team in Jamestown that is desperate.  We have our work cut out for us.”

The North Stars head to Flint on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. contest with the Warriors, then become considerably more familiar with fifth-place Jamestown. Traverse City will face the Ironmen in nine of the final 11 regular season tilts, starting next weekend with a three-game series in western New York. The Stars will host Jamestown at Centre ICE Arena March 15-17 and March 30-April 1.