Express bedevil Outlaws
Published on March 7, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
The North Iowa Outlaws had a great chance slip away this past weekend, dropping a pair of games to the Southern Minnesota Express. The Outlaws entered the weekend in a playoff spot, but ended the weekend on the outside looking in. The Outlaws finished the border battle 3-8-3 on the season.
This weekend, the Outlaws head to Bismarck for a big match-up against the Bobcats. Bismarck is the hottest team in the division, knocking off the Central Division leaders from Fargo three times last weekend to pull up the standings. The Bobcats are five points ahead of the Outlaws, but North Iowa has a game in hand. A pair of wins this weekend could set the stage for the race to the playoffs. The Outlaws have swept the prior three series this season, and will look to complete the season series sweep Friday and Saturday night.
Outlaws Drop Out of Playoff Spot
The North Iowa Outlaws string of bad luck continued against the Southern Minnesota Express this past weekend, as the Outlaws dropped a pair of games on their home ice. It's been the trend all season long when these two teams meet, Southern Minnesota gets the bounces and the Outlaws just don't have it in the tank to pull out the win.
In the second to last meeting between the North Iowa Outlaws and the Southern Minnesota Express, the trends of the series continued. For the tenth time in the series, the game was decided by two goals of less. Despite the early goal from Bryant Skarda, the Express had too much lucky and offensive power to defeat the Outlaws 4-2. Skarda started the scoring early in the first period with Jack Powers and Chris Giebe assisting on the goal. Southern Minnesota tied the game in the first with a power play goal with just less than five minutes left in the period to send the teams to the locker room deadlocked at one.
In the second, the Express knocked home two more to take a 3-1 lead when the Outlaws caught a break and a big chance to get back in the game. Steve McLeod was awarded a penalty shot, but Express goaltender Lars Paulgaard snagged the puck out of the air with the glove to make the save. Later in the period, Trevor Doden tallied a goal on a nice wrist shot from the point to pull within one at the end of the second. In the third, with the Outlaws on the power play, the Express intercepted a pass and Jaime Ruff knocked home a shorthanded goal to make it 4-2 for the final. Southern Minnesota takes a 10-3 series lead in their 13 meetings.
Saturday night, the border battle with the Express concluded, but not in the way the Outlaws had hoped. The Outlaws were left with a sour taste in their mouths as the Express handed them their fourth shutout of the season against the Outlaws. The Express win the season series 11-3. Three goals from the Express were enough to win, backstopped by Paulgaard who recorded his eighth shutout of the season. The Outlaws fell out of the last playoff spot because the Springfield Jr. Blues won to put the Jr. Blues one point ahead of the Outlaws. North Iowa is on the road next weekend against the Bismarck Bobcats on Friday and Saturday night.
Lucky of the Irish
The Outlaws return home next weekend to take on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in a three game series. The Outlaws start the series on Thursday night, at 7:05 pm. Friday's game also starts at 7:05 pm and the Saturday night contest will start at the same time. Saturday night come early and enjoy GREEN BEER for just a BUCK as the Outlaws celebrate St. Patricks Day. Happy Hour starts at 6-7 pm in the Outlaws Saloon. North Iowa will wear special St. Patrick's Themed Jersey's, sponsored by the Holiday Inn in Mason City. After the game the jersey's will be auctioned off in a live auction. Come celebrate St. Patty's Day with the Outlaws.
Harcharik Sets New Franchise Record
North Iowa's Joe Harcharik, Des Moines Iowa, set a new franchise goal scoring record, talling his 22nd goal of the season that topped Pat Dynan's mark of 21. With nine games remaining, Harcharik isn't the only player with a chance to top the mark this season. Steve Mcleod is the team leader in points with 47, (19G - 28A) and Max Mobley is right behind him in second with 26. Both players have a shot at topping the mark set by Dynan last season.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2007
- IceDiggers to wear NASCAR jerseys - Alpena IceDiggers
- Phantoms hit the road one last time - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bobcats looking for heroes - Bismarck Bobcats
- Adams Commits to Wayne State - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Express bedevil Outlaws - North Iowa Outlaws
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