Price's 4 Goals Lead Prowlers Past Minnesota

Bobby Price’s natural hat trick in the second period sent the Port Huron Prowlers on their way to a 6-3 victory over the Minnesota Northern Lights in their first ever visit to Ralph Engelstad Arena. That wasn’t even the full extent of Price’s scoring as he added a franchise record tying fourth in the third period.

“[Price is] a guy who plays very selfless hockey,” said Prowlers associate head coach Chris Paulin. “He plays hard every single night. He takes just as much pride in penalty killing and defending at a high level as he does in the offensive zone. He doesn’t go out there chasing goals, he gets them because of the great work of him and his linemates.”

Both teams had five-on-three man advantages in the first five minutes of the game and that set the tone for a penalty-filled evening. Brad Reitter opened the scoring on Minnesota’s power play and that 1-0 lead held through 20 minutes.

Price took over in the middle frame. He poked in a rebound off a Tim Organ shot 64 seconds in and, four minutes later, he again cashed in a rebound from an Organ shot. For Price’s third trick, he flew down the left wing and picked the top corner over Bailey Huber’s right shoulder. 

“We knew we needed to dial it in a little bit [after the first period],” Price said. “We knew what Huber is not good at so we dominated at that and stuck with it.”

Declan Conway cut the Port Huron lead to one before the end of the period with the Northern Lights’ second power-play goal.

The Prowlers put the game out of reach early in the third. Another rebound off an Organ shot found Price who potted it for his fourth 58 seconds into the final period. 12 seconds later, Jamie Bucell roofed a backhander off a steal in the offensive zone.

Max Arlt brought Minnesota back within striking distance, but after his team failed to convert on a five-minute power play, Organ hit the empty net from his own goal line to seal the deal.

Price and Organ led Port Huron with four points apiece. Bucell added a pair of assists to his tally. Andrew MacLean got the win after making 20 saves.

Conway and Reitter each added an assist to their goals. Chris Corgan finished with a pair of helpers for the Lights. Former Prowler Bailey Huber stopped 58 shots but took the loss.

The two teams meet again on Saturday, November 7 at 7:00 P.M. EST. Live coverage begins on the PHP Network YouTube channel at 6:30 P.M.

Photo courtesy of Lakewind Photography