Carolina Comeback Falls Short

By DJ Palm

Port Huron, MI - The Carolina Thunderbirds took a tripping penalty 1:27 into overtime and Dalton Jay made them pay for it. His power play goal got the Port Huron Prowlers a win after surrendering a three-goal lead in the third.

Jan Salak and Marvin Powell each netted a goal for their teams as the first period ended tied at 1-1. An early but brief two-man advantage for the Thunderbirds failed to score and Cody Karpinski made 13 saves in the frame. 

Only one goal was scored in the second period and it belonged to Tom Kilgore. His goal would give the Prowlers a 2-1 lead going into the locker room after 40 minutes. Port Huron thought they would have a 3-1 lead, but a goal by Matyas Kasek was waved off due to goaltender interference. 

Matt Robertson got it back for the Prowlers 48 seconds into the third for a 3-1 lead. Zach Zulkanycz found twine at 8:58, and with a 4-1 lead and eleven minutes left to go, Carolina showed why they are a record-breaking team. Micheal Bunn and Ray Boudiette scored to make it a one-goal game with less than three minutes left. With six seconds to go, Josh Pietrantonio tied the game from a Karel Drahorad blue line shot that he deflected past Karpinski to force overtime.

Austin Fetterly would force Chase Fallis to take a penalty, preventing a breakaway in OT. Port Huron only needed five seconds for Dalton Jay to get his first goal and 4th point of the night to win the game.

The Thunderbirds will look for revenge tomorrow against the Prowlers. Puck drops at 6 PM from McMorran Arena.

Photo credit: Delta Imaging