Weekend Split Protects North Division Lead for Fighting Falcons

Published on January 20, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release


PORT HURON, MI - The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League, protected their seven-point lead in the North Division standings by splitting a weekend series with the second-place Johnstown Tomahawks at McMorran Arena over the weekend.

 

The Fighting Falcons fell 4-2 Friday night before shutting down the Tomahawks in a 5-0 win Saturday.

 

Johnstown goalie Jake Moore made 43 saves in Friday's game, and held Port Huron scoreless in a 20-shot third period to hold on to the win. Bryce VanHorn and Vito Aluia scored for the Fighting Falcons, while Zach Badalamenti, Logan Lambdin and Matt Seidel added assists.

 

The loss was just the second this season for Fighting Falcons goalie Alex Blankenburg, who stopped 24 of 27 shots before being pulled in favor of an extra attacker late in the third period. Blankenburg is still one of just eight NAHL goalies with a goals against average under 2.00 (1.91), and has the league's fifth-best save percentage (0.931).

 

Saturday's game would be a different story for the Fighting Falcons, as goalie Max Milosek stopped 33 shots for his second shutout of the season in a dominant 5-0 victory.

 

The game was scoreless until Vito Aluia broke the tie at 12:37 of the second period, and Port Huron held a 1-0 lead heading into the third period.

 

The floodgates opened in the third, as Nick Le Sage, Jonathan Kopacka, Zach Badalamenti and Matt Seidel each scored to put the Fighting Falcons up 5-0. Milosek did his part, stopping every shot he faced, and now has shutouts in consecutive home starts.

 

Logan Lambdin had two assists on the night, and Reed Scahill, Lucas Linville, Austin Romzek,, Zach Badalamenti, Lucas Little, Bryan Yim and Matt Jones each added one.

 

Badalamenti and Yim became the first Fighting Falcons players to reach 30 points, and Badalamenti now finds himself in the midst of a five-game point streak.

 

With the split, the Fighting Falcons remain on top of the North Division standings with a seven-point lead over the Tomahawks, with two games in hand. They are the only NAHL team with less than ten regulation losses, and one of two teams to have earned at least one point in 30 games this season.

 

The Fighting Falcons return to home ice Wednesday night when they take on the Michigan Warriors at 6 p.m. All kids 12 & under can get a free walk-up ticket to Wednesday's game. Season ticket holders can also pick up a free extra ticket to Wednesday's game.

 

A win Wednesday would be Port Huron's 100th regular season win in franchise history. To celebrate, the Fighting Falcons are holding a contest for a $100 cash prize. To enter, simply write about your favorite Fighting Falcons win to the team's Facebook (Port Huron Fighting Falcons - NAHL) or Twitter (@PHhockeyNAHL) page. All fans who submit their favorite win will be entered into a drawing to take place at the first home game following win #100. The winner must be present to claim their prize.

 

Tickets to any Port Huron Fighting Falcons home game are available at the McMorran Arena Box Office starting at just $7 for seniors, students and military. For more information, call the front office at (810) 966-3800.

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