Weekend Split Puts Fighting Falcons Two Points away from Playoff Berth

Published on March 3, 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, split a weekend series up North against the Soo Eagles to maintain their six-point lead in the North Division standings. The Fighting Falcons fell 4-3 Friday before a 3-1 win Saturday night.

 

At 29-13-18, the Fighting Falcons are just two points away from clinching a spot in the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs. The Eagles are two points behind the Springfield Jr. Blues for fourth place in the North Division, as they are tied with the Janesville Jets at 21-23-7.

 

Despite a 45-29 edge in shots on net, the Fighting Falcons fell 4-3 Friday night, giving the struggling Eagles their first points of February on the month's final night. Soo goalie Paige Skoog made 42 saves to keep his team in the fight for the North Division's final playoff spot.

 

Zach Badalamenti and Vito Aluia each scored early in Friday's first period to give Port Huron a two-goal lead, but the Soo would score four straight goals to take control of the game. Nick Le Sage's third-period goal cut the lead to 4-3, but proved to be the last goal of the game.

 

Max Milosek took the loss for the Fighting Falcons, stopping 25 of 29 Eagles shots.

 

Niko Coffman, Logan Lambdin, Bryan Yim and Badalamenti each added an assist in the losing effort.

 

The Fighting Falcons were able to hold on to a two-goal lead Saturday night in a 3-1 win. Bryan Yim, Matt Seidel and Jon Hall scored for Port Huron, with assists from Alex Archibald, Niko Coffman, Vito Aluia, Jonathan Kopacka, Taylor Fernandez and Noah Batis.

 

Alex Blankenburg made 35 saves in his 15th win of the season. For the second consecutive night, the team with the edge in shots lost, as the Eagles outshot the Fighting Falcons 36-34.

 

This was the first weekend series this season between Port Huron and the Soo that did not feature an overtime game. Port Huron is now 6-2-2 against the Soo with a pair of games remaining against the Eagles March 15 and 16 at McMorran Arena.

 

Bryan Yim and Vito Aluia left the Soo with four-game point streaks. Yim has three goals and three assists in his last four games, while Aluia has a pair of goals and a pair of assists.

 

The Fighting Falcons conclude a four-game road trip this weekend when they make their final trip to Springfield, IL to take on the Jr. Blues this Friday and Saturday night. A weekend split or a pair of overtime losses would make the Fighting Falcons the first North Division team to punch their ticket to the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs.

 

The team returns to home ice Wednesday, March 12 for a 6 p.m. matchup with the in-state rival Michigan Warriors. The Fighting Falcons are just 2-4-2 against the Warriors this season, with four games remaining against Michigan in March.

 

Tickets to any 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 team's front office at (810) 966-3800.

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North American Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2014


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