Blankenburg's 48 Saves Not Enough in Fighting Falcons OT Loss
March 27, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - Â The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League and 2013-14 North Division champions, fell 2-1 in overtime against the Michigan Warriors in Flint Wednesday night.
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Garrett Halford, who has signed a tender agreement with the Fighting Falcons for the 2014-15 season, got his first NAHL goal in his first NAHL game to give Port Huron a 1-0 lead in the third period, but the Fighting Falcons were unable to hold on for the win. Lucas Linville assisted on the play.
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Zach Szajner's power play goal tied the game with less than four minutes to play, and Colin Larkin scored midway through overtime to give the Warriors the win.
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Alex Blankenburg tied a career high with 48 saves in the loss. Blankenburg has had eight games this season where he faced less than the 26 third-period shots the Warriors fired.
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Trevor Gorsuch earned the win in net for Michigan, stopping 28 of 29 shots.
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Fighting Falcons regulars Alex Archibald, Jonathan Kopacka, Bryan Yim, Zach Badalamenti and Vito Aluia sat last night's game out, as the team looks to get players some rest having already clinched the North Division championship.
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Halford and Cody Antonini played for Port Huron as affiliate players last night. Players on the Fighting Falcons affiliate list are able to play for Port Huron once their own seasons have come to an end. Affiliate player and 2014-15 tender Joe Sofo is expected to suit up for the Fighting Falcons Saturday.
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With the win, the Warriors magic number for clinching home ice advantage for the first round of the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs is just one, with both Michigan and third-place Janesville having two games left in the regular season.
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Following a day off Thursday, the Fighting Falcons and Warriors will face off Friday and Saturday night to conclude the 2013-14 regular season. Friday's game is set for 7 p.m. at McMorran Arena, while the season finale will take place Saturday at 7 p.m. at Perani Arena in Flint.
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Tickets to the final Fighting Falcons home game of the 2013-14 regular season this Friday are available at the McMorran Arena Box Office, starting at just $7 for seniors, students and military. For more information, call the team's front office at (810) 966-3800.
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Tickets for the first round of the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs are also on sale now at the McMorran Arena Box Office. Dates and opponents are still yet to be determined, but tickets for game one and two of the first round are available at the box office, starting at just $8 for seniors, students and military.
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- Blankenburg's 48 Saves Not Enough in Fighting Falcons OT Loss - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
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