Fargo-Moorhead Jets Weekly
March 25, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Friday Night The Jets had their backs to wall in a must win situation and prevailed 2-1 for their first win in Mason City this year.
The Jets and Outlaws skated to a scoreless first period that saw both teams scratch and claw for position for the puck but came away empty on both sides. Trevor Dodin rung off the left post behind Elliot Okland and the Jets kept things at zero. North Iowa out shot the Jets 8-6 but none of that mattered as we squared away the first 20 minutes tied.
The second started with yet another bang as the Outlaws used their iron horse, Shea Walters to take the early lead at 1-0. Though the lead would over 15 minutes it was still short lived. With a 5-on-3 advantage the Jets pounded the offensive zone and came away with nothing until Marc Harrie got his hands on the puck. Harrie fought off hits behind goaltender Austin Maginnis and used a nice wrap around through the five -hole to tie to game at 1-1 with less that three minutes to play in the second.
"I saw an opening and took the open space given to me trying to do my best to pound it home," said a delighted Harrie.
And pound the puck home he did collecting his team leading 19th goal! The period came to closure once again tie but the Jets held the shot advantage 15-8.
This set the table for an interesting, exciting and nail-biting third period in North Iowa. The Jets used a turnover by the Outlaws in their own zone to a hovering Justin Kirchhevel who unselfishly found Andrew Harrison who had a wide open net. Maginnis chipped the puck up his left wing but got no help from his team mates and was badly out of position. Harrison added his 17th goal of the year and it stood to be the game winner. After fighting off a late penalty and an empty net the Jets found themselves still in the playoff hunt with a 2-1 win.
Overall, Okland made 22 saves and gathered his 14th win of the year and the Outlaws dropped only their fifth game at home. Of those 22 saves none were bigger than the first few in the opening stanza when the Outlaws had the man advantage.
"I got a piece of the first shot from Doden with my left leg and then reacted sharply to knife the puck in the corner with my glove. I used that as early momentum for myself and I think everybody else fed off of it," proclaimed Okland.
Saturday Night In a game that featured tremendous saves on both sides by Elliot Okland and Robby Moss, it was Moss who prevailed again, 3-0.
The game was very similar to Friday's 2-1 win in that the first period was scoreless. It was neck and neck with the Jets having a few more scoring chances but out shot 10-7. It was a very clean game in terms of penalties and some tough calls by the refs set up another scoreless first.
He we go again as the second begun very much like Friday in that North Iowa got on the board first on a drive into the crease by Ross Ring-Jarvi. Ryan Ladouceur came back late to help out Okland but it might have backfired as Ring-Jarvi didn't really get solid wood on the puck as he collided with Ladouceur and took out Okland in the process knocking the net off its hinges. This would be the only damage done by the Outlaws in the period and it proved to be costly for the Jets. Though shots were close at 16-13 in favor of North Iowa they closed out the second on top, 1-0.
It would be a rocky start to the third period for the Jets as Joe Harcharik found an opening between Okland's legs to double up the score at 2-0. It only took: 39 seconds of play into the third to make it a tough hole to dig out of while Moss kept the door closed on the Jets. It was a racy third period as shots deflected left, right, up, down, into and over Moss but not behind him from the Jets. Another Harcharik goal put the teams' back against the wall. It would prove to be just enough as Moss made sure he got the win after resting the night before in the 2-1 loss.
Final numbers went to the Outlaws as they tied the Jets for most wins in a season in the division at 37 and out shot 40-35. Okland made 37 saves and never let down to keep his team in the game at all costs.
"He never quit and he gave us a fighting chance but that how things go and we did our best," stated coach Kinslow.
Sunday Night Having ridden the bus all day from Mason City, the Jets seemed to be out of sync in the first period and never rebounded from the 6-3 loss.
Elliot Okland started the most important game of his hockey career because a win meant the playoff dream was still alive, and a loss... well you get the point. The game started slow on both sides but the passes and breaks didn't add up for the Jets and after 10 minutes they started to click but Alexandria beat them to it. Mikael Lickteig beat Okland after he made the initial save but wasn't helped by his own rebound to make it 1-0. Shortly after peppering tender Ryan Leets another break out charge was led by Garrett Grimstad to Brandon Bahnemann who put an easy goal up and under the right side of Okland for the 2-0 lead. Marc Mihulka fed a near perfect pass to a streaking Robby Philipp who just missed a shot at an open net to close out the period down. Philipp showed his anger by pounding his stick at center ice heading into the locker room.
It took a long session into the second period before Marc Harrie snapped off a hort-handed rush up his left wing with Andrew Muir riding in on the coat tails down the middle, as Harrie made one shot he deflected his own rebound home to make it 2-1, Blizzard. Just over a minute later Alexandria was on a power-play and with his mother in attendance from Sweden Jens Nilsson put one past Okland for the 3-1 lead again. This would be the end of the night for Okland as Buegler came in relief for the remainder of the game. The second came to an end with the Jets behind by two goals at 3-1 but out shootting13-5.
With just 20 minutes left in regulation and the third period underway it was the assistant captain Philipp who made up for his misfortunes earlier by netting a goal to trim the fat 3-2. Philipp who had been sidelined a few games with a sore shoulder showed little signs of that on the goal. It wouldn't take long for the Blizzard to once again crushed the spirits the Jets were riding by Luke Nesper right through five-hole of Buegler for a 4-2 advantage. The Blizzard weren't down tormenting the crease just yet as Noah Nemgar snagged the third power-play goal of the game putting the game on thin ice for the Jets, 5-2. Andrew Harrison though had other plans to close the gap at 5-3 with under seven minutes to play. He raced to the bench to congratulate his comrades shouting, "It's not over!" Well, unfortunately it was over after an empty net goal by Larry Kincaid. This sealed the Jet's fate for any hopes of making playoffs on Easter Sunday, 6-3.
Nesper finished with a goal and two assists to claim number one star honors along with Ryan Leets's solidified performance in net dazzling aside 33 saves. Harrison, Philipp and Harrie each had a goal and Buegler gathered his second loss of the season since coming to the Jets from Hudson. The Jets are back at home the 28th and 29th for the final regular season.
The Hunt is Over Though the Jets had shown signs of life during a two game home sweep of North Iowa in early February and a four game up swing not long after had hopes riding high. Well all of that can now be washed away as the team will be dismissed from the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Final Weekend Home-stand The Jets will be holding a raffle for buck a ticket that has chances to win autographed sticks, pucks, hockey lessons, Papa Murphy's pizza and so much more. Discounts at the Jets' PX Store all weekend as we thank you the fan for your support this season!
North American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2008
- Jets Launching Game Worn Jersey Auction Saturday Night - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Blues Goaltender Phil Cook named NAHL Player Of The Week - NAHL
- Bartus Earns Honorable Mention for Player of the Week - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Fargo-Moorhead Jets Weekly - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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.
