Prowlers Win Game 3, Advance to Semifinals

The Port Huron Prowlers scored two goals 1:38 apart in the third period to break a 1-1 tie en route to a 4-2 win over the Blue Ridge Bobcats in the series-deciding Game 3 of the Commissioner’s Cup Quarterfinals. Port Huron will take on the Binghamton Black Bears in the semifinals.

“The boys played extremely hard,” said Prowlers associate head coach Chris Paulin. “The game was as expected, ups and downs. I thought Blue Ridge won a lot of shifts, so did we. It was will at the end of the day; the boys willing it over the finish line.”

Blue Ridge got on the board less than five minutes in. Demid Podrezov swept the puck toward the front of the net from below the goal line. It banked off of Reid Cooper’s leg and slid in to open the scoring.

The 1-0 lead held into the middle frame. In the midst of a long offensive zone shift, Reggie Millette found Lukas Lacny for a back-door tap-in to tie the score heading into the third.

The score was deadlocked for over 22 minutes of action. Just under nine minutes into the third, Ryan Alexander caused a turnover and fed Bobby Price who stuffed it in at the post. 1:38 later, Alexander forced his way to the front of the net and put in his first pro goal on the third attempt to make it 3-1.

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Just over two minutes after that, Justin Daly ripped home Blue Ridge’s second power-play goal to make it a one-goal game again. The Bobcats pulled Anthony Shrum for an extra attacker, but Matt Graham blocked a shot and hit the empty net to seal it.

Alexander and Price each added an assist to their goals. Reid Cooper stopped 24 shots in the win.

Carson Gallagher dished out two assists and Shurm made 27 saves.

The Prowlers and Black Bears will meet in the semifinals for the second-straight season. Port Huron will host Game 1 and Binghamton will host Games 2 & 3. 

Photo courtesy of Lakewind Photography