By David Dell
DANBURY Ct- After a decisive victory over the Hat Tricks Friday night, the Port Huron Prowlers traveled east for game two of the semi-final playoffs in the Federal Prospects Hockey League, Commissioner’s Cup Championship.
With both teams alternating shots on goal through the first seven minutes of the game, things started to settle down when Tucker Scantlebury (20th of the season, 1st of the playoffs) got the puck on Jamie Bucell’s face off win on the right wing, and took a quick wrist shot to beat Connor McCollum for the score. Shots on goal were 11-10 in favor of Danbury but they were on the downside of the score card 1-0 after a pedestrian first period.
Dan Chartrand picked up a Slashing minor at 4:57 of the second period and Josh Labelle evened things up with his power play goal just 5 seconds later. The Hat Tricks were skating 5-3 while Tucker Scantlbury was also serving a Delay of Game minor from 3:47. Noah Robinson put the home team up 2-1 at 6:05 while Chartrand’s penalty was winding down. Bryan Parsons and Vasilyev Aleksandr had Roughing and Slashing calls against them at 8:22 but it wasnt until Gleb Bandurkin’s Hooking at 9:45 before Austin Fetterly (16th of the season, 1st of the playoffs) was able to tally his first career playoff goal at 10:44 on the power play. Lukas Lacny passed to Fetterly from the left wing half wall, where Fetterly let fly a shot that made it through traffic, to even things up at two each. Luke James and Jacob Ratcliffe picked up matching Roughing calls and Vasilyev Aleskandr was called for Boarding and on the ensuing power play Fetterly appeared to have put the Prowlers up 3-2 but even though the puck went up and over McCollum’s shoulder, Danbury challenged and officials ruled Player Coach Matt Graham caused Goaltender Interference to erase the goal. The period thus ended in a tie.
Port Huron would like to have the last 20 minutes to play over as Adam Heinzl’s Holding penalty at 3:25 expired, Aleksandr gave the Hat Tricks the go-ahead goal at 5:27 making it 3-0. Player Coach Alex Johnson drew a 10 minute misconduct for Abuse of Officials under five minutes remaining, at 16:46 so he was gone, Player Coach Matt Graham drew a Holding penalty at 17:45 giving Danbury a 5 on 3 for the last 2:15 of regulation. Gleb Bandurkin sealed the game at 19:15 when he scooped a shot that missed the empty net, and put the puck in after it bounced back from the end boards. Closing out the game 4-2 Danbury escaped elimination for at least one more day, with game three of the series Sunday afternoon at 5:00.
The Prowlers are attempting to make it out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in seven years. The 2017-2018 campaign where they lost to Watertown Wolves in the Commissioner’s Cup finals was the last time they have had success in the post season.
The Prowlers play in the Empire Division of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, now in its’ 15th year.
