In control in the NAHL North
Port Huron Fighting Falcons and Michigan Warriors have taken 2-0 leads in the opening round of their respective best-of-five playoff series.
The top two seeds in the North Division of the North American Hockey League used home ice advantage to push their opponents to the brink of elimination.
Not that first-seeded Port Huron had an easy time with fourth-ranked Johnstown Tomahawks.
The Fighting Falcons were maxed to the limit in each of the first two games before eking out 3-2 and 4-3 triumphs over the Tomahawks.
In the 4-3 win, Port Huron had to overcome a 3-1 deficit to force overtime with a pair of third-period goals before low-scoring forward Elliot Tisdale won it with an OT tally.
A disappointment was the attendance with only 377 fans taking in the opener at McMorran Arena in Port Huron and 568 showing up for Game 2.
Meanwhile in Flint, the second-seeded Warriors upended third-ranked Janesville Jets by 4-2 and 5-1 scores to go up two games to none.
Janesville entered the playoffs as the hottest team in the NAHL North, having posted a 10-1-1 record down the stretch to vault from sixth place to third.
A key to the Warriors success in the first two games was the shutdown play of the Connor Lyons-Jake Hopfner-TJ Stuntz line.
The Lyons-Hopfner-Stuntz troika also went offensive in Game 2, combining for four points.
Yet-another 1993 birth-year forward, Zack Szajner, was a major contributor in the Warriors Game 2 triumph with two goals and an assist.
And third-year goalie Trevor Gorsuch stopped 58 of 61 shots to backstop the Warriors to the two victories.
NO WARRIOR COMMITMENTS
The fact that not one member of the veteran-laden Michigan Warriors has secured a National Collegiate Athletic Association commitment is surprising, to say the least.
While not a single Warrior has received a Division 1 commitment for next season, the other three NAHL North Division playoff teams have players galore with NCAA deals.
Janesville has six players with Division 1 commitments, Johnstown has four and Port Huron has three.
But the Warriors, for whatever reason, have none.
PHOTO: Michigan Warriors forward Connor Lyons. (NAHL photo.)
Randy: This sounds like a great time for you to interview Coach Mantha.
Fanman, sent Coach Mantha an e-mail early this morning requesting an appearance on the Hockey North Show on ESPN 1400 Radio. Have not heard back from him as of yet.
Warriors all the way – the line you mention Randy has done a great job shutting down the Hogland line from Janesvill.
Sounds like maybe the Warriors coach has some explaining to do .
watched many games at McMorran arena while attending Silver Stick tournaments over the years. A rink fitting of Junior hockey.
Disppointing to see so few attending games. With the Sarnia Sting not making the playoffs and the Legionnaires being ousted in the first round perhaps the PH team could entice some Canadian hockey fans over by advertising in the Sarnia Observer newspaper. Does the Times Herald even cover the team???
They do have a first place club !!!
I support Coach Mantha whole hearlty. Seems like the D1 scouts have some exsplaining to do…