NORTH SHORE KNIGHTS at PORT HURON PROWLERS
November 21, 2017 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Carolina Thunderbirds News Release
Port Huron, MI - The Port Huron Prowlers came out firing on all cylinders Saturday night, skating away with a 10-3 win over the North Shore Knights. Port Huron had three players with at least two goals, including Matt Robertson who collected the ever so coveted hat-trick, finishing the contest with four points overall.
The first period statistically is where this game was decided. The Prowlers came away with a quick 5-1, lead and more than double the shots of the visiting Knights. An early fight and some heavy checking sparked the Prowlers who never looked back, scoring two shorthanded goals in the process.
The first ten minutes of the second was the only time the Knights had the momentum. Scoring chances were even between the two teams and the Knights were able to score first on an odd man rush. Two fast goals brought the score to 7-2 and the speed of the Prowlers put the game out of reach.
The third brought more physicality from both teams as shots and hits were flying. Matt Robertson completed a hat-trick and the Knights were seldom in the offensive zone outside of a fruitless power-play and a buzzer beating goal by the knights at the end of the game. The final buzzer rang and the score showed 10-3 for the Prowlers.
The Port Huron Prowlers play again next Friday, November 24th at 7:30 PM against the Cornwall Nationals.
CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at DANVILLE DASHERS
Dashers Split Weekend Series with Carolina
by Aaron Martin
The weekend series between the Thunderbirds and the Dashers ended similarly to when last these teams met, in a tie.
Sunday nights game between the two teams started slowly, with the Dashers just eeking out a goal from the stick of Justin Levac close to the end of the first period.
Puck control was hard to come by in this game, with both teams meeting frequently at center ice and in the corners to contest possession. The game would be tied early in the second period when Matt Beer would put the puck over the shoulder of goalie Greg Hussey at 1:29 into the period. Both teams struggled heavily offensively for the rest of the period leaving the score 1-1.
Penalties proved to have dire consequences for the Dashers as the Carolina Thunderbirds started the third period with a 5-3 advantage due to an unsportsmanlike penalty called on Dashers head coach Brent Clarke at the end of the second with Dustin Henning already in the box for elbowing. The Thunderbirds took full advantage of this with Dominik Synek putting in the goal from the wing. Not two minutes later as the power play was ending Michael Bunn would make it a 3-1 advantage for Carolina as their offense got it going.
The game would play out in similar fashion as the second period with both teams struggling for puck control. Both teams would add a goal apiece to make the final score 5-2 Carolina.
The Dashers had a four game winning streak snapped and the season series between the two teams is now tied 2-2. Danville will have three home games next weekend as they take on the North Shore Knights, and Carolina goes on to face the Watertown Wolves in a three game series starting Thursday.
Dashers Top Thunderbirds 5-2.
by Al Kessler
How It Happened
Danville, IL - For the second time this season the Thunderbirds travel to Danville Illinois to take on the defending champion Dashers. The two teams opened up the Federal Hockey League regular season back in October, each taking a game in the Friday-Saturday series.
It would be the Dashers striking first, after an Anthony Parisi tripping penalty, Seth Ronsberg of Danville would fire home a high shot past Thunderbirds netminder Cary Byron to make it 1-0 Danville. The two teams would skate out the period with a 1-0 score.
Early in the 2nd the Dashers would strike again; Andrew Harrison would fire a shot from the point that fooled Byron and found the back of the net to make it a 2-0 advantage. The Thunderbirds would reply under 4 minutes after when Tom Kilgore would come racing in on a 2-on-1 rush with Jay Croop. Kilgore would wire a shot over the shoulder of Greg Hussey to cut the Dasher lead to 1.
Danville would extend the lead once again however when 1:02 into the 3rd period tic-tac-toe passing would result in a 3-1 score. Mere minutes afterwards however Jan Salak of the Thunderbirds would fire a puck on net that would find its way past Hussey to once again cut the Dasher lead in half. Danville would eventually add an additional goal to finish 5-2.
Notable Stats
Greg Hussey for the Dashers would make 33 saves in the win.
Josh Pietrantonio for the Thunderbirds would extend his scoring ways with an assist tonight to bring his total points to 9.
Back in Action
The Thunderbirds take on the Danville Dashers in Danville on Sunday, November 19. Sunday's broadcast will start at 5:45 pm on the Thunderbirds radio network.
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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2017
- WATERTOWN WOLVES at CORNWALL NATIONALS - Carolina Thunderbirds
- NORTH SHORE KNIGHTS at PORT HURON PROWLERS - Carolina Thunderbirds
- WATERTOWN WOLVES at CORNWALL NATIONALS - Carolina Thunderbirds
- CAROLINA THUNDERBIRDS at DANVILLE DASHERS - Carolina Thunderbirds
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