Icehawks Tie Series 1-1 With 3-2 OT Win

Thanks to the Fort Wayne Komets seemingly annual 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 playoff game arrangement, the second game in the Port Huron Icehawks/Fort Wayne Komets semifinal series was played in Port Huron, MI on Saturday night. With the Komets up 1 game in the series already, the Icehawks were determined to use the advantageous schedule to tie the series up on home ice. Knowing this, Fort Wayne was equally determined to get on the scoreboard quickly. As it turned out, both teams got their wish. The Komets got on the scoreboard first at 4:27 of the opening frame. With Port Huron forward Pete Rouleau in the box as of 3:46 serving a too many men on the ice penalty, Komets forward Colin Chaulk sent a perfect pass to fellow forward Matt Syroczynski, who then batted it out of mid-air past Icehawks goalie Larry Sterling and into the top of the net, putting Fort Wayne up 1-0. Forward P.C. Drouin also picked up an assist. At 8:42, Komets forward Justin Hodgman was whistled for tripping. A brief scrum ensued which resulted in Chaulk and Port Huron defenseman Kevin Hansen being sent off with roughing minors. The Icehawks' subsequent power play came up empty, but at 10:54 -- just 12 seconds after it had expired -- Port Huron forward Kris Vernarsky tallied to make the count 1-1. Vernarsky fought his way by Fort Wayne's defense as he skated in with the puck on his forehand, then switched to his backhand and chipped the puck over Komets goalie Nick Boucher's outstretched glove. Assists went to forward Nick Lindberg and defenseman Jamie Lovell. At 13:56, the Komets reclaimed the lead at 2-1 after Hodgman let a shot fly glove-side from roughly the same position on the ice that Syroczynski had fired from. Syroczynski and defenseman Guy Dupuis were credited with the assists on the play. Another mini-brawl broke out at 17:40 when Port Huron forward Derek Patrosso was sent off for holding. Hansen picked up another roughing call, as did Drouin who had merely pulled Patrosso from a pile-up of players to keep him from reaching Komets defenseman Frankie DeAngelis. Fort Wayne was unable to cash in with the man advantage, however, and it remained a 1-goal game to start the second. But not for long. Just 2:45 in, Port Huron pulled even at 2-2. The Komets attempted to tie up the puck behind their own net, but the Icehawks worked it loose and passed it to Vernarsky in front of the net for his second goal of the evening. Forwards Brandon Naurato and Matt Auffrey were awarded the assists. That capped the scoring in regulation, as the game turned into a hard-fought defensive battle replete with near misses, big hits, and spectacular save after spectacular save. Referee T.J. Luxmore swallowed his whistle after a hooking call on Icehawks forward Peter Flache at 18:30 of the middle frame, letting the players play out the rest of the game uninhibited. The third period featured more of the same. Sterling made impressive saves at close range on Komets forwards Justin Chwedoruk, Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock, Chaulk, and Hodgman. Boucher was busy doing the same on his side of the ice, making an impressive stop on a shot by Port Huron defenseman Paul Cianfrini with 6:59 remaining before saving the Komets' skins again when Fort Wayne defenseman Danko Mironovic turned the puck over at the blue line with less than 10 seconds remaining. Both teams then retreated to their respective dressing rooms to prepare for a hard-fought overtime, but as it turned out, the extra frame lasted only 13 seconds. A weak pass from Komets captain Dupuis was picked off 20 feet in front of the net by Icehawks forward and IHL Rookie of the Year Mickael Bedard, who immediately slammed a shot high just under the crossbar on Boucher's glove-side to give the Icehawks the overtime victory 3-2. The teams next play in Fort Wayne, IN on Sunday. Boucher made 35 saves on 38 shots in the loss. Sterling stopped 33 of the 35 he faced.

Notes: Announced attendance was 1523, the second largest crowd of the year for the Icehwaks. Fort Wayne was 1 for 4 on the power play. Port Huron was 0 for 3. Shots on goal were close through all three periods, with the Icehawks' 14-11 edge over the Komets in the second being the widest margin. Fort Wayne's only scratch was defenseman Keith Rodger. During the regular season, the Komets lost their first 3 games against the Icehawks in Port Huron before winning their final two meetings there. Prior to this game, the Icehawks last home victory over Fort Wayne was a 6-1 drubbing on January 26, 2010. The Komets are 17-22 all time in playoff series that begin 1-1.