Flags Drop to Hounds in Final Seconds, 3-2
March 23, 2007 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Flags News Release
(PORT HURON, MICH.) - McMorran Arena held its largest crowd of the season, as 2,777 fans were present, while the Port Huron Flags were nudged out by the Chicago Hounds, 3-2, on Friday night.
Very little happened in the initial session, as both sides had multiple opportunities to light up the board, but were unable to capitalize. Port Huron was barely edged by Chicago, 16-15, in shots on goal.
Todd Grant snapped the scoring draught when he fired in a rifle from the middle of the far circle at 4:35 in the second. Assisted by Matt Amado and Darryl McArthur, the tally put the visitors up, 1-0. However, a Flags power play several minutes later led to Colt King's tip-in at 6:50 from Scott Wray and Greg Bullock. King recorded his nineteenth goal of the season to knot the score, but Chicago answered back with a man-advantage tally of its own. At 9:54, Drew Otten had an open back door behind Dustin Traylen to give the Hounds the lead again, as Mike Brolsma and Chris Busby assisted on the go-ahead marker. Chicago finished the period with a one-point lead, despite being outshot by the Flags, 19-11, in the middle period.
Third frame action turned physical when Mike Olynyk and Rod Aldoff got tangled up at the boards behind the Hounds' net. Crowd momentum picked up as Olynyk solidly cleaned Aldoff's clock, but it was the Hounds who found the net next. Grant faked out Traylen, sending the Flags' goalie to his knees, and then sent the puck top shelf for his second netter of the night. Unassisted, at 8:50, Grant gave the visitors a 2-goal lead. In spite of the deficit, the Flags fought back, and King matched Grant's 2-goal game, when he rebounded Steve Hildenbrand's shot at 17:07, with Bullock getting the second assist. The Flags pulled Traylen with under a minute left, but were unable to capitalize with the extra attacker on the ice, as Magers came up with several crucial saves.
Traylen stopped 32 of 35 shots in the loss, snapping a 5-gmae winning streak, while Magers turned away 52 of 54 attempts for the win AT&T's Three Stars of the Game were awarded to Grant, King and Magers, respectively. Port Huron heads out on a 4-game road circuit with stops in Bloomington, Kalamazoo, Chicago and Muskegon before returning to McMorran on Saturday, Mar. 31 to host the Flint Generals at 7:30 p.m.
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International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 23, 2007
- Hogs Win Second Straight At Home; Gain A Point On Fort Wayne - Rockford IceHogs
- Jackals Falter Against K-Wings 4-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Flags Drop to Hounds in Final Seconds, 3-2 - Port Huron Flags
- Jackals Give Back To Community - Elmira Jackals
- Hounds Set for Weekend Battles - Chicago Hounds
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