Motor City Early Lead Not Enough Against Prowlers

Motor City couldn’t earn a weekend series sweep against Port Huron as the Prowlers were able to earn a 6-3 in the final game of 2022.

The Rockers (14-7-3) were able to get an early lead on the Prowlers on two hard driving plays to the net that set the tone early in the first period. 

In the first two minutes of play, the Rockers took the lead when Brad Reitter chipped the puck ahead to Roman Gaudet in the neutral zone. Gaudet carried the puck into the offensive zone and offered a quick shot as he charged the net that Danick Rodrigue partially stopped but went past him for a 1-0 lead. 

Three and a half minutes later, Tim Perks remained hot on the weekend as he got his second goal of the series when he carried the puck into the offensive zone and fired a quick wrister to the far side of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Josh Colten also assisted both goals that brings his total to sixteen on the year. 

The Prowlers (14-10-3) made sure it would leave the first period with a goal in hand as well when Larri Vartiainen put away a rebound off a Sam Gagnon shot to make it 2-1 with 5:51 to play in the period. The second period belonged entirely to Port Huron as it was able to get under the skin of the Rockers as the Prowlers got two power play goals that helped regain the lead. 

The Prowlers were able to outscore Motor City 5-1 the rest of the way. Joe Deveny had two goals in the second period, one when he completed the famed “Michigan” to tie the score up at 2-2, and another to help build the lead after a Matt Graham goal. 

That goal was scored on a quick wrist shot from 20-feet out to the top shelf for a 4-2 lead. 

Motor City was able to cut into the lead, 4-3, with a power play goal scored by Brad Reitter with 4:54 left in the second period. Nick Magill-Diaz earned his first career point as a Rocker with the assist. 

The Prowlers answered with a power play goal of their own off the stick of Alex Johnson for his sixth of the season to regain a two goal lead, 5-3 with 2:59 left in the second period. 

After several back and forth penalties between the teams, Liam Freeborn added a goal in the third period for a 6-3 lead. The game ended with the Prowlers able to seal the deal with a 6-3 victory. The Rockers are on the road this week for a series against the Columbus River Dragons on Friday and Saturday.