Port Huron Skaters Keep Point Streaks Alive In Win Over PrairieThunder

March 12, 2010 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Port Huron Icehawks News Release


PORT HURON, MI - Sixty minutes was not enough time for the Port Huron Icehawks and Bloomington PrairieThunder Friday, but sixty-one was plenty. Derek Patrosso broke a 3-3 tie less than a minute into overtime to give the Icehawks a 4-3 victory and a perfect 4-0 record in March.

The PrairieThunder scored the game's first goal late in the opening period when Matt Smyth tallied his first career IHL goal with just two minutes to play. The Icehawks were held scoreless despite outshooting Bloomington 15-9 in the period.

Port Huron tied the game with a goal off the stick of Brandon Naurato early in the second period. Naurato increased his point streak to six games with the goal. Assisting on the play was Patrosso and defenseman Cody Hamilton, whose four-game point streak dates back to his time with the Dayton Gems.

Brandon Kaleniecki later added to his own streak, finding the back of the net for the fifth consecutive game. Bloomington's Robin Gomez scored late in the second, however, to tie the game at two after forty minutes. The PrairieThunder outshot the Icehawks 12-9 in the period.

Bloomington regained the lead early in the third period on Brett Holmberg's 12th goal of the season. Peter Flache's game-tying score midway through the third would prove to be the last goal of regulation. Port Huron edged Bloomington 13-9 in shots in the third period.

Port Huron's Kris Vernarsky went down with an injury early on in overtime, but still managed to earn an assist on Patrosso's 24th goal of the season. With a goal and an assist on the night, Patrosso increased his own point streak to six games.

Adam Russo earned the victory in goal for the Icehawks, stopping 27 of 30 shots. Sebastien Dahm takes the loss for Bloomington with 28 saves on 32 shots. Kevin Armstrong stopped all six shots he faced for the PrairieThunder before leaving with an injury. Overall, Port Huron outshot Bloomington 38-30, needing just one shot in overtime.

The win is the second overtime victory for the Icehawks, who previously defeated the same Bloomington PrairieThunder 3-2 in overtime back on November 27. Port Huron has also been involved in nine shootouts this season, and is 7-4 in games tied after regulation.

The win keeps the Icehawks in second place with 78 points and an overall record of 37-18-0-4. Bloomington gained a point on idle Quad City and maintains their fourth-place position with 58 points and a 25-25-3-5 record.

In other IHL action, Fort Wayne defeated Muskegon to stay just one point behind Port Huron in the IHL standings. With the loss, first-place Muskegon's lead shrinks to just five points ahead of Port Huron and six points ahead of Fort Wayne. Flint held on for a 2-1 victory over Dayton to move within four points of Bloomington for the fourth and final playoff spot.

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.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from March 12, 2010


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