Flags Take Two of Three in Week 19
Published on February 18, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Flags News Release
Game Recaps
Wednesday, Feb. 14 Flint 2 vs. Port Huron 3
Flint took the initial lead, but Mark Cadotte's shorthanded goal tied things up until the Generals found the net again shortly after. Ben Gustavson netted his first goal as a Flag in the final frame to send the game to the extra session. Dustin Traylen stuffed 3 of Flint's 4 shooters, as Bobby Kukulka, Cadotte and Gustavson lit up the goal light to give the Flags a Valentine's Day win.
Friday, Feb. 16 Kalamazoo 5 vs. Port Huron 0
Kalamazoo scored once in the first two periods and three times in the third, while goalie Ryan Nie stopped 26 shots to blank the Flags at home. It was the second straight shutout for Port Huron against the K-Wings, who lost 3-0 in Kalamazoo last Saturday.
Saturday, Feb. 17 Bloomington 3 vs. Port Huron 5
Port Huron dominated the majority of the first two periods. Bobby Kukulka gave the Flags a 1-0 lead in the first. Mark Cadotte added a pair of goals and Greg Bullock found the net in the second to put the Flags up 4-0. Bloomington rallied with two lamp-lighters late in the middle frame, and one early in the third, but Port Huron's defense held it down, to prevent a tying goal. Cadotte put the nail on the PrairieThunder coffin when he racked up his third tally of the night and his first hat trick of the season.
Player of the Week: Mark Cadotte
DATE Vs. G A PTS PIM +/-
2/14 FLT 1 0 1 0 +1
2/16 KZO 0 0 0 0 -1
2/17 BLM 3 0 3 0 +2
TOTAL 3 4 0 4 0 +2
Mark netted the game-winning goal in Wednesday's shootout against Flint, in addition to his tally in regulation and was named 1st Star of the Game. On Saturday, he shot an amazing 75% (3 goals in 4 attempts), recorded his first hat trick of the season and received 1st Star honors again.
Goaltender of the Week: Dustin Traylen
DATE Vs. W/L/SOL MIN GA SAVES SPCT.
2/14 FLT 1/0/0 60:00 2 31 .939
2/17 BLM 1/0/0 60:00 3 29 .906
TOTAL 2 2/0/0 120:00 5 60 .923
Dustin stopped 3 of 4 Flint shooters during the extra session on Wednesday and was named 3rd Star of the Game. It was his 2nd straight overtime victory, as he also defeated Chicago in a shootout on Sunday, Feb. 11. He is currently riding a 3-game winning streak, dating back to Sunday.
Team Notes
- Ben Gustavson scored his first goal as a Flag on Wednesday night against Flint
- The Flags finished their 4-game home stand at 3-1-0 and now embark on a 5-game road swing with 2 stops in Ft Wayne and trips to Muskegon, Chicago and Rockford. Their next home game occurs on Sunday, Mar. 4, when the Elmira Jackals travel to McMorran Arena.
- Bobby Kukulka earned his 20th season goal on Saturday in a power play marker against Bloomington's Steffan Braunlich. He is 4th in the league for PPG (12).
- Kukulka's shootout marker on Wednesday moved him to a tie for 2nd in the league in SHG. He is 5 for 8 in the extra sessions.
- Dustin Traylen is tied for 2nd in the league in shootout wins (4)
- Mark Cadotte's Hat Trick on Saturday is just the second 3-goal game for a Port Huron player this season. Colt King is the only other Flag to achieve that mark (12/30 against Elmira).
- Port Huron is one victory shy of its twentieth win of the season
- McMorran's crowd of 2,255 on Saturday night pushed the Flags season attendance past the 50,000 mark.
UHL STANDINGS
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Team GP W L SOL PTS PCT GF GA PIM HOME AWAY
Muskegon 53 41 11 1 83 .783 217 144 1492 21-7-0 20-4-1
Kalamazoo 53 31 17 5 67 .632 181 140 1108 15-7-3 16-10-2
Flint 55 24 26 5 53 .482 170 195 1319 12-13-1 12-13-4
Elmira 53 23 29 1 47 .443 159 193 1613 13-13-1 10-16-0
Port Huron 53 19 28 6 44 .415 137 181 1290 15-11-3 4-17-3
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Team GP W L SOL PTS PCT GF GA PIM HOME AWAY
Fort Wayne 52 35 15 2 72 .692 185 128 1393 19-5-1 16-10-1
Rockford 51 31 15 5 67 .657 184 141 1330 18-7-2 13-8-3
Quad City 51 25 20 6 56 .549 177 178 1259 13-9-4 12-11-2
Chicago 51 18 31 2 38 .373 138 176 1004 10-14-0 8-17-2
Bloomington 52 15 35 2 32 .308 129 201 1039 9-16-0 6-19-2
Upcoming Games:
Friday, Feb. 23 @ Fort Wayne Komets
Saturday, Feb. 24 @ Muskegon Fury
Sunday, Feb. 25 @ Chicago Hounds
With 5 straight road games ahead, the Flags have their work cut out for them, as they are 4-17-3 and have been outscored 97-50 when playing away. Fort Wayne has won all three of the previous contests against the Flags, and the Western Conference leaders are always tough at home, with goaltender Kevin St. Pierre leading the league in games won (31). Saturday's contest in Muskegon will be the eighth match-up of the season. Port Huron is 2-4-1 against the Fury. In their last 2 meetings, the teams have traded road victories, with the Flags winning at LC Walker Arena on Feb. 2 and the Fury taking the victory at McMorran Arena on Feb. 9. A win on Sunday in Chicago will be critical to the Flags playoff chances. The Hounds are just 6 points back from the Flags in league standings and currently have 2 games in hand. Although Port Huron beat Chicago last Sunday at home, they are 0-1-0 at the Sears Centre.
Final Game Scores:
Wednesday, Feb. 14 Flint Generals 2
Port Huron 3 W
Friday, Feb. 16 Kalamazoo Wings 5
Port Huron 0 L
Saturday, Feb. 17 Bloomington PrairieThunder 3
Port Huron 5 W
Flags Season Record: 19-28-6
At home: 15-11-3 On the road: 4-17-3
Conference: 11-19-5 Non-Conference: 8-9-1
Eastern Standing: 5th League Standing: 8th
International Hockey League 2 Stories from February 18, 2007
- Rockford survives in Chicago with shootout win - Rockford IceHogs
- Mallards Dominate Jackals 6-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Fury re-focused on first place - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Flags Take Two of Three in Week 19 - Port Huron Flags
- Muskegon Fury notes - Muskegon Lumberjacks
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