Weekend Sweep Sends Fighting Falcons out West with Division Crown in Reach
March 17, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - ÃÂ The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League, are just two points shy of their second North Division championship following their weekend sweep of the Soo Eagles at McMorran Arena. The Fighting Falcons won 3-2 on Saturday, and 3-1 on Sunday to extend their home winning streak to seven games.
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With the sweep, the Fighting Falcons (33-14-8, 74 points) extended their North Division lead to 11 points over the Michigan Warriors, who have six regular-season games remaining. Any Fighting Falcons win or Warriors regulation loss between now and the end of the season would clinch the division for Port Huron.
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The Eagles (23-25-7, 53 points) fall to sixth place in the division, but are still just four points behind the fourth-place Johnstown Tomahawks. The Eagles are the only last-place NAHL team still in playoff contention with two weeks to go in the regular season.
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Captain Bryan Yim set a new Fighting Falcons franchise record for points in a season with a second period assist Saturday night, surpassing the previous record held by Alex Globke and Rick DeRosa. As of Saturday night, Yim entered the weekend tied with Globke and DeRosa at 42 points on the year. Yim added a goal while PA announcer DJ Palm informed the McMorran Arena crowd of the new record.
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Matt Seidel and Noah Batis also scored for Port Huron while goalie Alex Blankenburg got his fifth consecutive victory to improve to 17-4-1 on the year. Elliott Tisdale, Reed Scahill, Vito Aluia and Alex Archibald added assists in Saturday's win.
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Scott Cuthrell and Sandis Zolmanis kept the Eagles in the game with goals of their own, but the Soo was unable to overcome a late penalty in the loss. Paige Skoog made 27 saves in a losing effort in net.
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Yim set another milestone Sunday, as he scored twice to overtake former Fighting Falcons forward Mitch Maloney for the 2013-14 team lead in goals scored at 19. The four-point weekend gives Yim a franchise-best 46 points on 19 goals and 27 assists.
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Nick Horne also scored to give the Fighting Falcons the 3-1 victory. Logan Lambdin, Vito Aluia, Matt Jones and Lucas Little added assists in Port Huron's seventh straight home win.
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Max Milosek continued his hot play in net, as he held the Eagles to just one goal on 31 shots. Milosek has won each of his seven starts at McMorran Arena in 2014, with four shutouts and just four goals allowed in that stretch.
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Paige Skoog took his second loss in as many nights, with 25 saves Sunday.
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In other North Division action, the Michigan Warriors split a road series against the Janesville Jets, and the Johnstown Tomahawks were swept by the Springfield Jr. Blues, and have now lost seven games in a row. The Jets have overtaken the Tomahawks for third place in the division standings, and the Tomahawks hold a two-point lead over the Jr. Blues for the fourth and final spot in the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs. Just five points separate third-place Janesville from sixth-place Soo.
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The North Division is the only NAHL division without two or more playoff spots clinched, as the Fighting Falcons are still the only team to have guaranteed their spot in the quest for the Robertson Cup. It is also the only division in which every team has at least 20 wins and at least 50 points. Based on their success in divisional crossover games, every team in the North Division could finish the regular season with a winning record.
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The Fighting Falcons take the longest trip in franchise history this weekend, as they travel to Washington to take on the Wenatchee Wild. The Fighting Falcons swept the Wild when they visited McMorran Arena for a weekend series in October. If Janesville beats Michigan in regulation Friday, the Fighting Falcons will have clinched the division title before they take the ice in the Pacific Time Zone.
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Port Huron concludes their 2013-14 regular season with three games against the second-place Michigan Warriors next week; with the home finale slated for Friday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets to the home finale 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.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2014
- Munroe, Piazza Earn League Honors as Wildcats Sweep Weekly Awards - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Wilderness Win Weekend Series - Minnesota Wilderness
- Weekend Sweep Sends Fighting Falcons out West with Division Crown in Reach - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- Game Day Preview: Bulls Visit RoadRunners - Amarillo Bulls
- Wilderness Win Weekend Series - Minnesota Wilderness
- Henry Dill Makes Division I Commitment - Aberdeen Wings
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