Dashers have Prowlers Number to Snap 5 Game Losing Streak, 7-5
December 9, 2018 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Danville Dashers News Release
Danville, Illinois - The Danville Dashers ended a five-game losing streak on Saturday night at the David S. Palmer Arena as they took down the Port Huron Prowlers by a score of 7-5. The Dashers had a phenomenal offensive night after a recent drought in scoring.
The Dashers were without league point-leader Ryan Marker as he was called up by the Evansville Thunderbolts. The Dashers were unfazed, however, as they went straight at the Port Huron defense from the beginning. It was Teddy Bear Toss night at the Palmer Arena as fans tossed a massive number of stuffed animals onto the ice as the result of the Dashers' first goal.
Stephen Gaul was the one who let the bears fly on the night for Danville as he scored on a power play with just 5:07 gone in the first period. The goal was assisted by Aaron Atwell and Justin Brausen. The Prowlers rebounded about ten minutes later as Yianni Liarakos scored off a brilliant passing play by his team. The goal came off a tic-tac of assists from Zach Zulkanycz and Dalton Jay.
The scoring in the first continued for the Dashers as Ryan Stayner scored off assists from Justin Brausen and Stephen Gaul. The first period ended at 2-1 in favor of the Dashers. It wasn't long, however, before Danville netted again after Daniel Martin scored on an assist from Patrik Zilak and Danville-native Brock Drews.
It was thirteen minutes before anyone scored again as Port Huron found the net, making it a 3-2 game in favor of the Dashers. Artem Stupnikov scored once again, with assists from Austin Fetterly and former-Dasher Joe Pace Jr. Port Huron let up two more goals before the end of the second to Stephen Gaul and Ryan Stayner, both netting their second goals of the night, respectively. Justin Brausen assisted on both of those goals, adding to his massive point total on the night. Aaron Atwell and Taylor Cutting also both had assists, making the score 5-3.
Port Huron wasted no time upon the start of the third period, scoring after just 11 seconds on a goal from Yianni Liarakos, with assists from Zach Zulkanycz and Dalton Jay. The goal cut the lead to 5-4, but the close game wouldn't last too long.
Danville native Brock Drews made the game 6-4 when he scored just 5 minutes later on assists from Daniel Martin and Patrik Zilak, before Justin Brausen netted the final Dasher goal of the night to make it 7-4. Port Huron would score late in the game with 17 minutes gone in the third period, to narrow the lead to two goals.
The dynamic Danville attack was too much for the Prowlers, and the Dashers took the game at 7-5. Port Huron spent a total of ten minutes in the box, with Danville seeing 12 on the night, with Taylor Cutting seeing eight of the 12.
Despite giving up five goals to the recently-revived Port Huron offense, goalkeeper Aaron Taylor had some beautiful saves for the Dashers, many times ripping sure-fire goals out of the air with his glove-hand. He finished saving 51 shots out of 56, while Port Huron keeper Cory Simons saved 23 goals out of just 26 shots against. He was replaced in the goal after playing 31 minutes on the night, by backup keeper Rick Odria, who stopped 20 shots on 24 shots from the Dashers.
The Dashers third star on the night was Ryan Stayner (3 PTS, 2 Goals, 1 Assist), the second star was Stephen Gaul (4 PTS, 2 Goals, 2 assists) and the number one star was Justin Brausen (5 PTS, 1 Goal, 4 Assists).
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