United Hockey League

Flags Collect Seven Straight Wins in 6-3 Trouncing of Wings

(PORT HURON, MICH.) - The Port Huron Flags erased a 2-0 deficit to assume the longest current winning streak in the league and end the Kalamazoo Wing's 5-game unbeaten run in a solid 6-3 victory against the conference opponents.

Having snapped Muskegon's seven game winning streak by the score of 4-3 the night before, Kalamazoo was chomping at the bits to squash the Flags' plans for a seventh straight victory. The Wings came out on fire, building a 2-0 lead on goals from Kory Karlander and Justin Cross at 4:42 and 5:18, respectively. The visitors outshot the home team 12 to 9 in the period.

Bobby Kukulka cut the lead in half when he scored on a power play at 6:22 in the second. His seventh consecutive game with a goal gives him the league's longest individual scoring streak of the season, passing first place scorer Todd Robinson of the Muskegon Fury, who recorded six straight games with goals in October. Kukulka's goal was assisted by Greg Bullock and Steve Hildenbrand, capitalizing on an Adam Elzinga hooking call. Late in the period, the team's heavyweights went one-on-one as Rob Snowball and Chris McAllister knuckled up, much to the excitement of the crowd of 1,960 fans. McAllister's extra four inches gave him the reach advantage, but Snowball held his own, landing several serious blows squarely on McAllister's jaws. Although the Wings outshot the Flags 12 to 9, the Flags made the most of their opportunities, when Mike Olynyk tied the game on a rebound goal with just 34 seconds left in the period. Kukulka and Pat Sutton were credited with the assists

Port Huron took its first lead of the night at 5:50 in the third, off a one-time from Garett Cameron, with assists by Bullock and Jeremy Tucker. Kalamazoo returned the favor at 7:31, when Lucas Drake set up Cross perfectly for the tying goal. A holding penalty on Jason Lawmaster turned things around after Colt King stuffed the puck past Tom Askey, assisted by Sutton and Kukulka. When King went to the box for hooking at 12:33, it looked like Kalamazoo might even the score again, but a solid effort from Noah Ruden and the defense squashed the Wings' attempts. Then, to put the icing on the cake, Ryan Markham made broke away from Kalamazoo's line, took the puck into the Wings' zone and set up the fifth goal of the night to Bullock, at 14:17. Kalamazoo's strategy to equalize the score by pulling their goalie backfired when Hildenbrand and Kukulka set up B.J. Adams for his first goal of the year at 17:50. Of the shots that Port Huron recorded in the third, four were successful, compared to Kalamazoo's 7, of which 1 found the net.

Bullock, Kukulka and Ruden were named AT&T's First, Second and Third Stars of the Game, respectively. The Flags travel to Elmira on Friday to face off against the Jackals, and then return to play them on home ice on Saturday. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m., proceeding the jersey retirement ceremony of former Flags great, Larry Gould.

BUY 2 GAME TICKETS, GET THE 3rd FREE! Now through January, the Flags are offering a special deal to ensure that fans don't miss a minute of the action. With the purchase of 2 game tickets, the 3rd is free, when purchased in advance through the Flags office. Call (810) 982-FLAG to reserve yours today!

The Port Huron Flags are a community owned, nonprofit member club of the United Hockey League. For more information on the 2006-07 season, contact the front office at (810) 982-3524 or visit the website at porthuronflags.net: Home