By David Dell
PORT HURON- Coming off a decisive win against the Continental Division Blue Ridge Bobcats Friday night, the Prowlers started the game with a ceremonial puck drop by former Icehawks forward and Alternate Captain Jeff Zehr.
Friday night’s game between the two teams had a few moments of raised temperatures and flared tempers which carried over into Saturday. Several dust ups occurred early in the opening stanza but lead to nothing in the scoring column. Savva Smirnov, Blue Ridge’s only scorer from Friday put the visitors on the board first at 16:14 on only their fourth shot of the evening. That would be the end of the scoring and the excitement of the first 20 minutes. The Bobcats put only eight shots on goal while the Prowlers hit double digits with 11.
The middle frame went scoreless but had the continued altercations. Port Huron’s Tucker Scantlebury served a double minor for Roughing while Matt Graham and Jake Vaughn also picked up Roughing minors. Justin Vernace drew a Roughing minor and Savva Smirnov received Cross-Checking Game Misconduct and Ejection on the Bobcats’ side of the ice. The Prowlers again had 11 shots on goal while the Bobcats put 13 on net.
Aaron Ryback doubled up the Blue Ridge tally at 11:18 in the third period even strength before Port Huron’s Alex Johnson (5th of the season) cut the lead in half at 13:47. On the powerplay for Alex Norwinski’s High Sticking minor, the Prowlers used just six seconds from face off to goal. Johnson got the puck from Austin Fetterly just outside the right hand face off circle, and let go a solid wrister and beat Hunter Virostek, low on the stick side. Just shy of four minutes later Ludwig Thellstrom (1st goal of the season) tied things with only 1:23 remaining in regulation. Lukas Lacny gained the zone on the left side, sent the puck to the slot where Luke James then moved it to Thellstrom on the right wing. Following Johnson’s move he went low on the stick side, both goals coming from Port Huron’s Defencemen. Time would expire with the game knotted at two apiece and both teams putting up 12 shots in the third.
Overtime consisted of Port Huron controlling the game with four shots while Valtteri Nousiainen stood vigilant. Shot totals for the game favored the Prowlers 39-33.
Tonight there would be no confusion on the number of shoot out rounds with all parties being in agreement that it is best of three, with continuation if needed. Nousianinen stopped all three shooters from Blue Ridge and Virostek stopped the first two Prowlers. Team Captain Austin Fetterly picked up the puck at center ice, skated nonchalantly to the right wing, slid back towards the slot and let fly a nondescript shot, as easily as if he were collecting pucks after practice. Virostek gave up the five-hole goal like he was asleep. Fetterly now has 5 goals on the season, two of which are game winning, shoot out goals.
The Prowlers will take their two-game winning streak and 3-4-1-0 record on the road next weekend when they travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a pair of games against the Zydeco on Thursday and Friday, before moving on to Monroe, Louisiana for a single game with the Moccasins. All games are cross conference match ups.
The Prowlers play in the Empire Division of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, now in its’ 15th year.
