FHL Connected: Game Recaps March 19, 2017
March 19, 2017 - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
Carolina Thunderbirds News Release
Titans Score Late, Defeat Dashers 3-2
By: Tommy Pecoraro
Fresh off a two game trip to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, home of the Carolina Thunderbirds (who begin FHL play this upcoming season), the Dashers came into Danbury looking to re-establish their winning ways after falling to the Prowlers in a shootout the night prior. In a hard fought contest, the Dashers would come back, but eventually fall to the Titans in a potential preview of the Commissioner's Cup Finals. Between the league's two hottest teams.
Andy DiCristofaro would be a huge reason why this game would be so close, as the Titans threw everything but the kitchen sink on goal, but time and time again, the Dashers goalie would keep the Dashers close. The Titans would take the lead in the 1st period, as Matt Graham would put home a rebound, after a Taylor Bourne shot on a 2 on 1 was stopped initially. The Dashers would respond with a goal with 3 seconds remaining in the period, however the goal was disallowed as there was a delayed penalty on Cameron Dimmitt for high sticking. The Titans would get a 4 minute power play to start the 2nd, and Junior Harris would score on a one timer to make it 2-0. The rest of the 2nd period, time and time again the Titans would be foiled by Andy DiCristofaro, who stood on his head continuously. The Dashers would get life in the 3rd period as a result. 1:41 into the 3rd period, Daniel Turgeon would find the back of the net after a great set up from the boards by Andrew Harrison to make it 2-1. The Dashers would tie the game 9 minutes later, as Andrew Harrison would reach into his bag of tricks, walking around a Titans defenseman and to the net, roofing a shot over Bobby Bowden. However, the very next shift, the Titans regained the lead as Taylor Bourne was at the right place at the right time, firing home a loose puck in the slot, to make it 3-2. The Dashers battled valiantly for the game's remainder, but Bowden and the Titans stellar defense would provide enough fortitude, and the Titans would get their 4th victory this season, over the Danville Dashers by a 3-2 count.
For Danville, Andrew Harrison would earn a goal and assist, and Daniel Turgeon would also score. Gehrett Sargis tallied assists on both Dashers goals. Andy DiCristofaro would stop 30 of 33 shots for the loss. For Danbury, Junior Harris and Taylor Bourne each scored a goal and assist, and Matt Graham also scored a goal. Dalton Jay added 2 assists, and Bobby Bowden stopped 25 of 27 shots for the victory. Attendance for tonight's game was 913.
The Titans, who have 4 games remaining, play in Watertown and Cornwall next weekend, before finishing off the season at home against Port Huron and on the road in Berlin. The Dashers, who have already clinched 1st place and home ice for the playoffs, have 5 games remaining. They will play in Port Huron next Friday and Saturday, and the final weekend will consist of games against St Clair Shores in Kingsville, Ontario, along with 2 home games against Watertown to finish the season.
MAHFOUZ SCORES 200TH CAREER GOAL, POWLERS GET BIG WIN
By Dennis Stuckey
(Port Huron, MI) - The Port Huron Prowlers kept their playoff hopes alive, with a huge 4-2 win on Sunday over the visiting St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints. After falling behind 2-0, the Prowlers scored the game final four goals, including two in the third, to grab all three points in the contest.
Brandon Contratto scored the only goal of the first, an unassisted effort just 45 seconds into the game, on a hard slap shot just inside the far post, from the top of the right circle. Port Huron threaten several times in the period, but Jan Pechek of the Saints stopped all 13 shots he faced in the frame.
Nick Lang scored his first career goal from Dominik Fejt just 2:49 into the second period, to extend the Saints lead to 2-0. However, it was all Prowlers the rest of the way. Ahmed Mahfouz blasted a rebound into the net at 5:44 of the period to put Port Huron on the board. The goal was the 200th of Mahfouz's pro career, and extended his point streak to 25 straight games. Matt Beer and Branden Parkhouse got the assists on the play. Anton Lennartsson bulled his way to the net later int he period to tie the game, scoring his first goal with the Prowlers, and 5th overall on the season. Mahfouz and Beer assisted the game tying goal at 14:57.
The third period scoring started with Beer, who wristed home a long shot from the blue line at 5:02, putting the Prowlers up 3-2. Mike Baker and Paul Arnott got the helper on what turned out to be the game winning goal. Just over four minutes later, Branden Parkhouse deflected a perfect centering feed into the net for his 30th goal of the season. The insurance goal, set up by Matt Robertson and Joe Pace Jr. made it 4-2 Prowlers.
With four games left in the regular season the Prowlers will host Danville at McMorran Arena on next Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25 in their final two home games. Puck drops at 7:30 each night.
Nats End Skid
by Rodney Wilson
BERLIN, NH - The Cornwall Nationals snapped a three-game skid on Sunday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over the River Drivers in Federal Hockey League action.
Lou Dickenson's power-play goal, his second of the contest, with 32 seconds left in the third period iced the victory for Cornwall. Curtis Warren also scored twice for the Nationals.
But the star of the game was unquestionably Francis Dupuis, who was outstanding in goal with a 56-save performance. Cornwall was outshot 58-29.
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Federal Prospects Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2017
- FHL Connected: Game Recaps March 19, 2017 - Carolina Thunderbirds
- FHL Connected: Game Recaps March 18, 2017 - Carolina Thunderbirds
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