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Fighting Falcons Split Retro Weekend Series vs. Jr. Blues

December 2, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release


PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League, skated to a series split against the Springfield Jr. Blues during "Retro Weekend" at McMorran Arena.

 

Saturday's game will go down as one of the most exciting in team history, as the Fighting Falcons overcame a four-goal deficit in a 6-5 shootout win.

 

In their first game after a short Thanksgiving break, the Fighting Falcons went down 4-0 just 8:33 into the first period of Saturday's game, and managed just two shots on goal through the first 20 minutes.

 

Port Huron cut the lead in half with a pair of power play goals in the second period by Logan Lambdin and Jonathan Kopacka. Springfield's fifth goal of the night gave the Jr. Blues a 5-2 lead early in the third period.

 

The three-goal lead would hold until 12:31 into the third period, when Fighting Falcons captain Bryan Yim scored to cut the lead back to two. Port Huron kept firing away throughout the third period, and Matt Jones eventually put one home with 70 second remaining to cut the Springfield lead to one goal.

 

A faceoff in the offensive zone gave the Fighting Falcons the opportunity to pull goalie Max Milosek in favor of a sixth skater, and Lambdin capitalized with his second goal of the night to tie the game. Lambdin's goal came just 14 seconds after the score by Jones. Video of Lambdin's last-minute goal, complete with play-by-play broadcaster Dennis Stuckey's exciting call can be seen at http://www.fasthockey.com/watch/?v=Nk4Nmwrh#.Up0DI9KthyJ.

 

Port Huron brought a wave of momentum into the overtime period, firing four shots on goal, but was unable to get a game winner.

 

Noah Batis scored in the eleventh round of the shootout to give the Fighting Falcons their most improbable win in franchise history.

 

Max Milosek made nine saves on 11 shots and turned away nine Springfield shootout attempts to pick up the win in relief of Alex Blankenburg, who stopped 13 of 16 shots before coming out after a big collision in the second period.

 

Sandro Aeschlimann took the loss for Springfield, stopping 27 of 32 Port Huron shots, and eight shootout attempts.

 

Springfield held the lead for over 56 minutes in Saturday's 65-minute game, but left the ice with just one point in the shootout loss.

 

Sunday's game would follow a similar script through 50 minutes, as the Jr. Blues again jumped out to a big lead, but this time the Fighting Falcons were unable to muster a comeback.

 

Trailing 3-0 in the third period, Bryan Yim's goal appeared to open the door for another magic comeback, but a Springfield goal less than two minutes later dashed the Fighting Falcons hopes for a weekend sweep.

 

Stefanos Lekkas earned the win for Springfield Sunday afternoon, stopping all but one of Port Huron's 27 shots.

 

Milosek took the loss for the Fighting Falcons with 26 saves on 30 shots against.

 

Sunday's game was the first regulation loss on home ice for the Fighting Falcons this season. It was also the first time the team lost by more than one goal all season.

 

With a 16-4-5 record, Port Huron holds a five-point lead in the North Division standings, and their 37 points put them in second place in the NAHL overall standings.

 

The Fighting Falcons make the short trip to Flint this Friday to take on the Michigan Warriors. Two of Port Huron's league-low four regulation losses have come at Flint's Perani Arena, though they earned a 2-1 shootout win in their last road game with the Warriors in late October.

 

The team returns to McMorran Arena to take on the Warriors Wednesday, December 11 at 6 p.m. Children 12 & under get a free walk-up ticket with a paid adult.

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