Fury Finish Week, 1-3-0-0, Hold On To Fourth
Published on March 31, 2008 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Muskegon Lumberjacks News Release
MUSKEGON - Thanks to a Billy Collins goal in overtime Sunday, the Muskegon Fury hold the fourth and final playoff spot for the International Hockey League at the close of the week.
The Fury finished the week with a record of 1-3-0-0, but the win Sunday over Kalamazoo keeps the Fury one point ahead of the K-Wings for fourth place in the IHL.
The Fury entered the week in third place, but watched their lead over Flint slip away as the Generals topped Muskegon 4-2 on Wednesday morning in Flint. The Fury got goals from Rafal Martynowski and David Herring 37 seconds apart in the second period to tie the game 2-2, but the Generals responded with a pair of goals eight seconds apart late in the second period to re-take the lead. Muskegon was unable to score in the third. Clayton Pool stopped 41 of the 45 shots he faced in net for Muskegon to keep his team in contention.
Friday, the Fury fell at home to the Bloomington Prairie Thunder, 3-1. The Fury's lone goal came 5:15 into the second period from Billy Collins, but the Prairie Thunder scored again in the third and got 36 saves from Loic Lacaasse to get the road victory. Isaac Reichmuth, in his first full game in net for Muskegon since January, stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced in net.
Saturday, Muskegon came back from a 4-1 deficit at Fort Wayne to tie the game, but the Komets took the lead back just moments later and added an empty-netter in the closing moments for a 6-4 victory. Mark Cadotte scored the game's first goal on the power play 3:12 into the first period. In the second, Billy Collins scored to make it 4-2 on an unassisted goal 15:42 into the second, then Dan Riedel made it 4-3 with 2.8 seconds left in the second period. Riedel struck again on the power play 37 seconds into the third to tie the game, but Fort Wayne's David Huckalo scored 33 seconds later to help the Komets to their 24th straight home victory.
Sunday in Muskegon, Collins scored with 2:45 left in the third period to tie the game, then against 3:34 into overtime to give the Fury a 3-2 victory. Robin Bouchard, who assisted on both Collins goals, scored 10:31 into the first on the power play for the Fury. Kalamazoo scored 1:06 into the second to tie the game, then 16:49 into the third to take the lead, setting up Collins' first goal just 26 seconds later.
This week, the Fury have a full schedule with four games in five days, including three on the road. Wednesday, the Fury travel to Flint again. The Fury are 6-6-1-0 against the Generals this season, and trail Flint by just two points for third place in the IHL. Friday, the Fury are at Port Huron. Muskegon is 6-7-0-1 against the Ice Hawks this season. The last time these two teams met, a large brawl broke out just nine seconds into the contest, which the Fury won in overtime on a Dan Riedel goal. Saturday, the Fury host the Fort Wayne Komets in Muskegon's final Saturday home game of the regular season. The Fury are 5-8-0-0 against Fort Wayne this year. Sunday, Muskegon returns to Flint for another contest with the Generals.
RIEDEL ON A ROLL
The Fury's Dan Riedel is currently on a 13-game point streak, the second-longest streak in the league. The IHL's defending Forward of the Week scored five points (2G, 3A) this week. His 27 goals, 22 assists and 49 points lead all Fury rookies.
MILESTONE WATCH
Philippe Plante needs two points for 300 in his career. Mark Cadotte is six assists away from 300 for his career and 12 goals shy of 200 for his career. David Segal is three games away from 100 for his career. David Herring needs three points for 50 in his career. Robin Bouchard needs seven goals for 600 in his career.
UPCOMING EVENTS
On April 11, the Fury will have a pre-game awards ceremony and a post-game jersey drawing. The Turner Cup will also be on display during the entire game at Walker Arena. For information on any Fury event, call Kara Hillstead at (231) 726-3879 ext. 223.
FURY ON THE AIR
Muskegon Fury players Cassidy Preston and Alex Archibald will join broadcaster Matt Tjapkes on the Fury Hotline show tonight. The show airs live from Cuti's Sports Bar and Grill on the corner of Seaway and Laketon in Muskegon and on West Michigan's 94 K-Rock (94.1 FM) from 7-9 p.m.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 31, 2008
- Three Port Huron Icehawks Receive IHL Weekly Honors - Port Huron Icehawks
- Icehawks Six Points From Clinching IHL Playoff Berth - Port Huron Icehawks
- PrairieThunder's Parsons Earns IHL Weekly Honors - Bloomington PrairieThunder
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- IHL Weekly Honors For Week Twenty-Four - IHL 2
- Komets Streak To IHL Record 24 Straight Home Wins - Fort Wayne Komets
- Three Players Have Tricky Weekend - IHL 2
- Former UHL MVP Jeff Nelson Joins Fury For Playoff Push - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Fury Finish Week, 1-3-0-0, Hold On To Fourth - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- Flint Generals announce roster moves - Alban is activated among others - Flint Generals
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