MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – PORT HURON, Mich. – The Port Huron Icehawks secured second place and home ice advantage in the first round of the International Hockey League Playoffs on Friday with a 5-4 overtime win over the Kalamazoo Wings at McMorran Arena.
Kris Vernarsky scored at 3:07 in the overtime period on assists from Joe Markusen and Chris Bogas to lift the Icehawks to their fourth overtime victory over Kalamazoo this season. Port Huron is now 6-2 in overtime games this season.
The Icehawks battled back from a two goal deficit in a tight game with major playoff implications. The game was a must win for Kalamazoo, who entered the contest two points behind Muskegon for the fourth and final playoff spot. With the loss, the K-Wings playoff hopes came to an end.
The Icehawks scored first with a Donnie Margettie goal on assists from Steve Hildenbrand and B.J. Adams at 1:08 in the first period, but Kalamazoo soon fired back with three consecutive goals before the ten minute mark in the first period. The tallies included goals just 38 second apart from Nick Bootland and Lucas Drake at 3:25 and 4:03 and another Bootland tally just over five minutes later.
In the second period, the Icehawks struck back with three unanswered goals of their own.
The offensive burst began just 42 seconds into the period when Jeff Zehr took advantage of a Kalamazoo tripping penalty and notched his 15th power play goal of the season on assists from Bogas and Jamie Carroll. Before the ten minute mark, Tab Lardner notched his 38th goal of the season and Zehr scored again on a pass from Carroll to put the Icehawks on top 4-3.
Just over eight minutes into the third period, Karlander found the back of the net on helpers from Bootland and Travis Granbois to tie the game.
Port Huron goalie Marty Magers turned away 33 of 37 shots, including two overtime shots, for the win, while Jeff Reynaert stopped 28 of 33 shots for Kalamazoo.
The Icehawks will wrap up the regular season tomorrow with a trip to Kalamazoo. They return home next week to meet the Flint Generals in the first round of the playoffs. Games one and two are scheduled for Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 at McMorran Arena. Playoff tickets are available now at the McMorran Arena Box Office, the Icehawks office, or by calling 810-966-3800.