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Battle for the IHL Playoffs Heats Up
Monday, Feb. 25th, 2008
This weekend’s contests will be key as third place Port Huron (58 points) plays three straight games versus fourth place Muskegon (55 points). The Icehawks lead the season series with the Fury, 5-4-0-0. Port Huron has won the last two consecutive contests versus Muskeon. Also this weekend, second place Flint (60 points) battles fifth place Kalamazoo (52 points) three times in four days. Kalamazoo leads the season series 5-3-0-0. Three of the K-Wings five wins coming in the shootout, where the Generals have yet to record a victory.
The Komets have the best goaltending duo in the IHL. As of this week, Boucher and Reiter are ranked number one and two in goals against average (GAA), respectively. Boucher has a record of 15-2-1-1 and leads the league with his 2.23 GAA and save percentage (.918). Reiter, who has played 17 more games than Boucher, has a record of 21-10-4-0 and is second in the league in GAA (2.37) and third in save percentage (.909).
AROUND THE “I”
Bloomington PrairieThunder - (2-2-0-0) – Don Parsons has scored at least one point in five straight games. Parsons also has 24 goals, which eclipses the franchise record of 23 set last year by Alex Goupil. The PrairieThunder picked up nine of a possible 16 points during a stretch of eight games in 11 days. Jon Booras has scored at least a point in nine of the last 12 games. He had a string of six straight games where he scored a point snapped in Bloomington’s last game. Defenseman Tim Schneider had not scored a point all season until he got two assists last week. Newcomer Blake Stewart has played in eight games, but has already scored six points for four goals and two assists. The PrairieThunder will play three of their next four games on home ice this week, where they have a record of 12-12-2-0.
Flint Generals - (2-3-0-0) – It was the busiest week of the season for the Flint Generals with five games in six days. The team went 2-3-0-0. In the final two games of the weekend, the Generals had 12 skaters due to a rash of injuries and managed to go 1-1. The Generals have eight wins against Bloomington this season including five at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The Generals won their 20th of the season when leading after 40 minutes this season and just their fifth when tied after one period of play. Forward Michael Beausoleil had a terrific week with nine points, including six helpers. Flint plays their second school education game of the season this week when they travel to Kalamazoo. The Generals were beaten in a shootout by Muskegon 5-4 in their first education game back in January.
Fort Wayne Komets - (2-0-1-0) – The Komets will risk their 15-game home winning streak Friday at home against Bloomington. Komet streaks: Goaltender Nick Boucher is unbeaten in regulation 13 straight starts (12-0-1-0). Mathieu Curadeau (C) has a five-game point scoring streak (4g, 3a). Terry Marchant (C) is riding a three-game point streak (2g, 2a). Colin Chaulk (C) has points in three straight games (1g, 2a). Milestone: Colin Chaulk (C) registered his 400th Fort Wayne career point Friday night with an assist at Muskegon on the Komet's first goal of a 3-2 win. Komet trivia: The Komet's are 0-5 in overtimes this year after a 5-4 overtime loss Friday night at Bloomington. The Komets have not scored an overtime goal in a regular season game since April 9, 1993 when they defeated the Indianapolis Ice 4-3. Komet skater Igor Chibirev scored the goal in front of a sold-out Fort Wayne crowd of 8,103. Going for the Cup: Fort Wayne has won the IHL's regular season championship seven times, but have yet to win the Huber Trophy under the Franke Family ownership. The Komets won three UHL regular season titles including last year's Tarry Cup.
Kalamazoo Wings - (1-2-0-0) – Kalamazoo will host the Flint Generals during the first of two Education Day Games. All-time the K-Wings are 5-3-0-1 in morning tilts, including 3-3-0-1 at Wings Stadium. Justin Cross and Glenn Detulleo each recorded five-point nights during the K-Wings game last Friday versus Bloomington. Cross scored three goals and added two assists, while Detulleo had a goal and four assists. Kory Karlander is one point shy of 600 in his career. Nick Bootland is four games shy of 700 in his career. Karlander leads the league in scoring with 66 points. Nick Bootland is second in goals scored with 31. Glenn Detulleo leads the league in assists with 38 followed by Karlander with 37. Kalamazoo will play the Flint Generals in three straight games starting this Wednesday. Bootland shares the league leads in both power-play goals with 13 and shorthanded with three. Kalamazoo is three points out of the last playoff spot in the league.
Muskegon Fury - (1-1-0-0) – Fury forward Shea Hamilton notched his third short-handed goal of the season on Saturday, tying him for the IHL lead in that category. Three of his four goals this season have come with the Fury down a man. Fury forward Mark Cadotte assisted on the goal, and now holds the IHL’s lead in short-handed assists with three. Cadotte added two more assists on Saturday, giving him seven in his last four games played. Billy Collins, the Fury’s leading goal scorer, missed his first game of the season on Saturday. With Collins out Saturday, no player for Muskegon has played in every game this year. Muskegon also played the week without Mike Watt, the team’s third leading scorer. Muskegon Fury defenseman Russ Moyer was signed by the Grand Rapids Griffins to a professional tryout on Saturday. Moyer has 20 points in 39 games for the Fury this season. He is the first Fury played to be called up to the AHL this season. Fury forward Bill Zalba played in his 200th game for the Fury on Friday. Muskegon’s Robin Bouchard is now one goal away from 450 in his Muskegon Fury career. Kyle Kos is one assist away from 100 for his professional career.
Port Huron Icehawks - (2-1-0-0) – After meeting the Generals five times in February alone, the Icehawks will not see the Generals again until they meet on March 28 and 29 to wrap up the season series. Center Kris Vernarsky is now riding a three game point streak after contributing points in all three of the Icehawks games last weekend. He had six points (2g, 4a) in that span. Defenseman Chris Bogas returned from the 10-Day IR on Sunday and turned in a strong performance, with the game winning goal, two assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-4. Special teams were key in Friday’s game between Flint and Port Huron, with both teams landing three power play goals in 11 opportunities. Killing off eight penalties in that game alone, the Icehawks remain the league’s top penalty killing squad on the road. They have killed off 84.5% of penalties and surrendered just 27 power play goals against in 174 shorthanded situations. When Port Huron gets on the board first, they usually win. They are 15-5-0-0 when scoring first this season .The Icehawks average 21.34 penalty minutes per game this season, which is the least of any team in the league.
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