Port Huron Completes Sweep of Johnstown
April 14, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
JOHNSTOWN, PA -The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League and 2013-14 North Division champions, completed a first-round sweep of the Johnstown Tomahawks with a 4-3 win in Johnstown, Pennsylvania Friday night. The Fighting Falcons now advance to the North Division Finals against the rival Michigan Warriors.
With Friday's win, the Fighting Falcons have now ended each of Johnstown's first two NAHL seasons with first-round playoff victories.
Port Huron jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Jon Hall and Noah Batis scored less than two minutes apart in the first period. Johnstown and Port Huron alternated goals from there, as Brandon Reinholz scored the Tomahawks' first power play goal of the series midway through the first.
Vito Aluia's first goal of the series made it 3-1, but Matthew Meier cut the deficit in half, making it 3-2 after an action-packed first period.
Fighting Falcons captain Bryan Yim's first postseason goal was the lone score of the second period, giving Port Huron a 4-2 edge heading into the third.
Dakoda Menslage again cut the deficit in half early in the third period, but the Fighting Falcons defense and goalie Max Milosek shut the door from there to preserve a 4-3 win.
Milosek made 28 saves for his 10th career playoff victory. Brett Young fell in his sixth consecutive start, allowing four goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Alex Okicki for the third period. Okicki stopped all six Fighting Falcons shots he faced.
Though game two of the series between Port Huron and Johnstown featured a combined 103 penalty minutes, game three matched the 26 penalty minutes of game one. Each team scored two power play goals Friday, with the Fighting Falcons going 2/7 and the Tomahawks going 2/6. The Tomahawks finished the series with 105 penalty minutes, more than twice as many as the Fighting Falcons' 50.
Bryan Yim had two assists for Port Huron, while Austin Romzek, Alex Archibald, Vito Aluia and Noah Batis each added one.
Each of Port Huron's three wins over Johnstown came by just one goal, as the Fighting Falcons outscored the Tomahawks 11-8 in the series.
With three points Friday, regular-season points leader Bryan Yim leads the Fighting Falcons with four points on a goal and three assists in the playoffs. Thirteen Fighting Falcons scored at least one point in the first round.
The other North Division playoff matchup also ended in a sweep Friday, as the Michigan Warriors eliminated the Janesville Jets with a 3-2 win in Janesville. The Fighting Falcons and the Warriors will face off in the North Division Finals, beginning with games one and two at McMorran Arena this Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Tickets to the North Division Finals are available now at the McMorran Arena Box Office, starting at just $8 for seniors, students and military. For more information, contact the Fighting Falcons front office at (810) 966-3800.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2014
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- Amarillo Bulls Announce Schedule for South Division Final - Amarillo Bulls
- Port Huron Completes Sweep of Johnstown - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
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- Thank You Wings Fans, Sponsors - Aberdeen Wings
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