Express Suffer Consecutive 4-3 Losses in Fargo

Published on December 29, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Owatonna Express News Release


FARGO, ND - There is very little that separates the second-place Southern Minnesota Express from their first-place rivals, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets, save for the intangible difference between a first-year franchise and a veteran team that went to the league championship series last spring. Thursday night in Fargo, the Jets collected their second 4-3 win over the Express in just 24 hours. Although every game between the two teams has been a hard-fought battle decided by a single goal, Fargo-Moorhead has won four of the five meetings.

Thursday night, a disallowed goal by Stu Bickel in the third period may have been the difference. Everything else was pretty much a copy of Wednesday's contest. The Express outshot Fargo-Moorhead 49-40, Jets' goalie B.J. O'Brien was spectacular once again, and the veteran team found a way to win. Seventeen-year-old Brandon Bukowski (Superior, Wis.) scored the game-winner at 15:49 of the third period, just 1:22 after Southern Minnesota's Kevin Wright had tied the game. Sean Murphy and Jamie Ruff each had a goal and an assist for the Express. The loss was Southern Minnesota's third in a row and it dropped the Express eight points behind Fargo-Moorhead, winners of five straight, in the Central Division points chase. Perhaps more importantly, Express defenseman Jeff Carlson left the game in the third period with a leg injury and did not return. Any extended absence of Carlson from the Express lineup would be a serious blow.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central