Port Huron Icehawks Take Commanding 3-1 Lead Over Fort Wayne Komets in IHL Finals
Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:11PM MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – PORT HURON, Mich. – The Port Huron Icehawks are one step closer to hoisting the Turner Cup after skating to a decisive 5-1 win over the Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday at McMorran Arena.
With the victory, the Icehawks take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven IHL championship series. They can clinch the championship tomorrow with a win in Fort Wayne.
The win was a team effort as five Icehawks turned in multi-point games. Jamie Carroll led the way with a goal and a pair of assists, while Jeff Zehr had two goals, Joe Markusen and Josh Aspenlind each had a goal and an assist and Jamie Lovell had two assists. Icehawks goalie Larry Sterling stood on his head as he turned away 38 of 39 shots for his seventh win in nine playoff starts.
ADVERTISEMENT Fort Wayne’s Konstantin Shafranov put the Komets on the board at 6:46 in the first period, but the Icehawks didn’t allow them to hold their lead for long. Aspenlind tied the game on the power play at 11:37 in the first period and kicked off an offensive burst that saw the Icehawks score five unanswered goals.
Zehr notched the eventual game winner late in the first on assists from Aspenlind and Lovell. The offensive onslaught continued in the second period with Zehr’s second goal of the night, and goals from Markusen and Carroll.
The third period went scoreless, despite Fort Wayne’s attempt to get back into the hockey game with 11 shots on goal.
The Icehawks were outshot 39-23 in the victory. They were 1-4 on the power play, while the Komets were 0-4 on the power play.
Fort Wayne goalie Kevin Reiter turned away 18 of 23 shots for his third loss in six playoff starts.
The Icehawks will look to clinch the series tomorrow in Fort Wayne. Game time is 7:30 p.m. If necessary, game 6 will be on Saturday in Port Huron. Game 7, if necessary, would be on Monday in Fort Wayne.
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