Fighting Falcons Clinch Playoff Berth with Weekend
March 10, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - ÃÂ The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League, became the first North Division team to clinch a berth in the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs with a weekend split in Springfield, IL against the Jr. Blues. The division-leading Fighting Falcons fell 2-1 Friday before punching their ticket to the playoffs with a 3-2 win Saturday.
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With just three weeks left in the 2013-14 regular season, the Fighting Falcons (30-14-8, 68 points) clinched the first of four playoff spots in the hotly-contested North Division. The Jr. Blues (22-24-7, 51 points) fell to sixth place in the division, but are still just four points out of fourth. With Springfield's win Friday, each North Division team now has 50 points or more, a distinction no other division can claim.
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Friday's game saw the Jr. Blues outshoot the Fighting Falcons 32-26 en route to a 2-1 victory. Port Huron fell behind 2-0 before captain Bryan Yim's third-period goal cut the deficit in half. Yim's 16th score of the season would prove to be the final goal of the game, however, as Springfield held on for the win. Noah Batis assisted on the lone Fighting Falcons goal.
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Saturday night's game was a different story, as the Fighting Falcons scored once in each period in a 3-2 win to secure their position in the playoffs. Vito Aluia, Niko Coffman and Nick LeSage scored for Port Huron, as they earned a victory despite being outshot 36-31. Alex Blankenburg made 34 saves for his 16th win of the season.
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Noah Batis, Nick LeSage, Bryan Yim, Jonathan Kopcaka and Zach Badalamenti each added an assist in Saturday's win.
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With a point in each game, Bryan Yim's point streak has now reached six games, as the Farmington, MI native has recorded four goals and four assists in six games since late February. Niko Coffman's Saturday night goal made him the 18th Fighting Falcons player to reach double digits in scoring this season, as the defenseman has two goals and eight assists on the year.
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At 68 points on the season, the Fighting Falcons have matched last season's total with eight games still remaining in the regular season. The team would need to win six of eight to top the franchise record of 79 points in the 2011-12 season, which was the first time the team won the North Division's regular-season title.
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The second-place Michigan Warriors managed just one point in a weekend series against the Soo Eagles this weekend, which means that Port Huron's lead in the division standings now sits at seven points with eight games to play in the regular season. With a combination of wins and Warriors losses, the Fighting Falcons could clinch the North Division title as soon as this Sunday.
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The first step towards clinching the North Division comes this Wednesday, when the Warriors visit McMorran Arena to take on the Fighting Falcons at 6 p.m. The Fighting Falcons are just 2-4-2 against the Warriors this season, with four games remaining against second-place Michigan in March. Wednesday's game is "Mother-Son Night." For more information, contact your local city recreation department.
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Tickets to any Fighting Falcons home game 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.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2014
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- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Fighting Falcons Clinch Playoff Berth with Weekend - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
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