Danbury Drops Game 2 in Penalty Filled Affair

Published on April 16, 2016 under Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Danbury Titans News Release


DANBURY, CT -- The Port Huron Prowlers are one win away from securing the Commissioner's Cup as they defeat the Danbury Titans once again. In a game that will be known more for its penalties are ejections, the Prowlers again scored late in the third period, this time winning 4-3. Absent from the game were Danbury's Ryan Patsch, out with an undisclosed injury, and Port Huron's Joe Pace Jr, after receiving a five minute slashing penalty from Game 1.

In response to the slash from Pace, the Danbury Titans came out ready to make a statement by starting defensemen Martin Tuma, Anthony Pisano, and forward Al Graves up front. Immediately after the initial faceoff, all three would pair off with their Prowler counterpart and start swinging. All three Prowlers would turtle and not answer the challenge. The aftermath would be at Tuma and Pisano would both get ejected, along with Danbury Head Coach Phil Esposito after getting into a shouting match with Prowlers coach Trevor Karasiewicz. Karasiewicz, for his part, would also receive two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Port Huron would still have a 5 on 3 advantage for the beginning of the game, including a major power play. All told, Danbury would receive 59 minutes in penalties, compared to Port Huron's 2.

While Danbury would kill the first minor penalty to make it 5 on 4, Chris Leveille would connect on the power play to give Port Huron an early 1-0 lead. The penalties would continue to pile up over the course of the period, but it would be on a delayed call that Tyler Gjurich would score his first of the Championship to tie things at 1 with Razmuz Waxin-Engback and Dean Yakura on the assists. The period would finally end over an hour after it started knotted at one, and Danbury holding a 14-13 shot advantage.

The second period would belong to Port Huron's special teams with Roger Tagoona scoring on the power play and Dustin Skinner scoring on a short handed breakaway, despite Danbury holding the Prowlers to only 5 shots on goal for the entire period. Danbury would fail to convert on their three power play opportunities in the period, making their two period total 0-6 on the power play.

In what could be considered a "must win" game for the Titans, they would come out looking for equalizers. First, Frank Schumacher would find the back of the net just over two minutes into the period, with Bryan Dallaire and John Scorcia getting the assists. Brett Liscomb would poke home the tying goal five minutes later after Dan McWhinney couldn't control an easy shot from Dallaire. Play would go back and forth until, once again, the Prowlers would get the game winner from a defenseman. Matt Fuller would blast a shot off the crossbar and past Danbury's Alex Vazzano for the game winning goal.

With the win, Port Huron moves one win away from clinching their first Commissioner's Cup. Danbury was again deficient on the power play, ending the game 0-9 with the man advantage. The series will now move to McMorran Place in Port Huron for Games 3 and 4, with faceoffs scheduled for 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday, the 22nd and 23rd of April respectively. If necessary, Game 5 will be in Danbury on Tuesday, April 26th. Danbury will need to win both games in Michigan to force that pivotal game. For more information, log onto danburytitans.com or call 844-DT-HOCKEY.

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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2016


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