Icehawks Steal Home-Ice Advantage With 4-3 Win In Fort Wayne Sunday

Published on April 26, 2010 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - The Port Huron Icehawks showed why they finished the 2009-10 regular season with the league's best power play unit, scoring three power play goals in a 4-3 win in game three of their semi-final matchup with Fort Wayne Sunday. The Icehawks came back from an early two-goal deficit, scoring two third-period goals to take home-ice advantage from the Komets. Port Huron leads the series 2-1.

Justin Hodgman gave the Komets an early lead, finding the back of the net for the third straight game at 3:33 of the first period. Colin Chaulk and Brandon Warner assisted on the play. Fort Wayne went up 2-0 when Guy Dupuis scored on the power play at 18:21 of the opening frame on assists by Matt Syroczynski and Hodgman. Port Huron's offense struggled early on, as they were outshot 13-4 in the first period.

The Icehawks got on the board when defenseman Jamie Lovell scored from the slot on a 5-on-3 power play just over two minutes into the second period. Kris Vernarsky and Brandon Naurato assisted on Port Huron's first goal of the night. Lovell tied the game at 10:36 of the second period, sniping a slap shot over the left shoulder of Fort Wayne goalie Tim Haun fron just inside the blue line. Mike Gershon and Peter Flache assisted on the goal. The game would be tied for less than 30 seconds as Syroczynski scored on an odd-man rush from Warner and Hodgman to give the Komets a 3-2 lead after two periods. The Komets outshot the Icehawks 12-11 in the second period.

Matt Auffrey scored Port Huron's second power play goal 3:10 into the third period to tie the game and quiet a crowd of over 6,500 Komets fans. Daniel Tetrault and Mike Kinnie assisted on the play. The Icehawks took advantage of a late penalty on Justin Chwedoruk, as Brandon Naurato scored just nine seconds into the power play after a clean face-off win in the offensive zone. Tetrault and Auffrey assisted on the game-winning goal. Port Huron outshot Fort Wayne for the first time, 13-11.

The Icehawks earned the victory despite being outshot 36-28 in the game.

Larry Sterling made several big saves in traffic throughout the night, turning away 33 of 36 Fort Wayne shots for the win. Tim Haun took the loss for the Komets, with four goals allowed on 28 Icehawks shots.

Port Huron tied an Icehawks franchise playoffs record with three power play goals, going 3-7 on the man-advantage overall. The Komets went 1-6 on the power play.

For game stats: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/gamesheet_full.html?gameid1267244.

The Icehawks and Komets will return to action Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Port Huron for game four. Port Huron has not lost at McMorran Arena since St. Patrick's Day.

Single game tickets for all Icehawks home games are on sale now at McMorran Arena Box Office, any Ticket Master location or by phone. For more information, visit www.porthuronicehawks.com or call 810-966-3800.

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International Hockey League 2 Stories from April 26, 2010


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