Carolina Spoils Port Huron Comeback Attempt

By Dennis Stuckey 

Port Huron, MI - The Port Huron Prowlers suffered just their third loss in their last nine games on Thursday night. Stanislav Vlasov spoiled a big third period comeback, when he scored with just 22 seconds left on the clock to lift the visiting Carolina Thunderbirds to a 5-4 win at McMorran Arena. Carolina has now won eight games in a row.

Jiri Pargac netted a power play goal at 8:31 to open the scoring, followed by an even strength goal by Jiri Pestuka just 58 seconds later. Joe Cangelosi then added a short-handed goal to round out the Carolina scoring burst.  

Matt Graham got Port Huron on the board late in the second period, but the home team remained down, 3-1 until just past the halfway point of the final period. The Prowlers mounted a wild comeback that started with a Matt Robertson goal at 10:41. The Thunderbirds retook a two goal lead with five minutes left on the clock from a Peter Cicmanec tally. Less than a minute later, Robertson scored his second goal of the game to bring the score back to within one goal. With Cory Simons on the bench for an extra attacker, Graham banged in his second goal of the night at 18:30 to tie the game at 4. With overtime looming, the excitement was extinguished by Vlasov at 19:38 after being set up by Cangelosi and Pargac.

Graham finished with four points on two goals and two assists, while Robertson added two goals and two assists for the Prowlers. Cangelosi had a goal and two assists for the Thunderbirds. 

Port Huron continues a busy stretch of five games in six nights as they travel to Watertown on Friday and Saturday. The Prowlers return home on January 12th when they host the Mentor Ice Breakers.

Photo credit: Delta Imaging