First place showdown this weekend for FM Jets
Published on November 22, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) Heading into last weekend, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets had all the anticipation for success as a family getting together for the holidays. However, the weekend turned out to be as disappointing as a burned turkey on Thanksgiving.
After playing the past month predominately on the road, three consecutive demoralizing defeats greeted the FM Jets as they began a month-long stretch, heavy on home games and high on optimism. That optimism is being quickly tested this week.
In an effort to put the past behind them, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets are doing nothing but eyeing an upcoming first-place showdown this weekend with the Minnesota Blizzard. The FM Jets (14-7-1, 29 pts) currently hold a slim lead for first-place in the North American Hockey League's Central Division over the Blizzard (12-6-3, 27pts) and Southern Minnesota.
The FM Jets face Minnesota on Friday Nov. 25 at the Carlson Coliseum, before the series shifts to Alexandria the next night. This is actually the start of a rare four-game series, which will carry-over to next weekend with another home and home.
"As demoralizing as last weekend was, we have to remember its still early, so moving forward is very important" said Jets' head coach Chad Johnson. "Our guys played very hard, and probably deserved a better fate, but that is behind us now."
The teams haven't played each other since a 4-1 FM Jets win on Sept. 30 at the Carlson Coliseum. Jon Halstenson (Fargo, ND) had a goal and assist, while four different Jets' players scored in the victory.
Minnesota followed that loss -which was their first game of the season - by going 12-1-3 over the next month, including a 13-game streak without a regulation defeat. The Blizzard are led by veterans Dan Swanson (13, 16, 29) and Scott Motz (9, 18, 27), who were each members of Minnesota's team last season when the Jets swept them from the first round of the NAHL Playoffs.
Swanson has been particulary effective recently with 7 points in the last five games.
However, Swanson's solid play recently hasn't translated into victories as Minnesota enters this series with four consecutive losses.
Meanwhile, Fargo-Moorhead has had their own struggles to worry about. The Jets are winless in their last four, including a three-game losing streak.
Rough Weekend
The FM Jets have lost four consecutive home games for the first time in franchise history after they fell in all three of their home games last weekend. A 4-2 loss to Bismarck on Nov. 17, was followed by another 4-2 loss on Nov. 18 to Bozeman and a painful 4-3 loss to Bozeman on Nov. 19.
"There is no excuse to losing home games, but we were in each of them" said Johnson.
While the loss to Bismarck was hard enough in its own right because of the North Dakota bragging rights on the line, it will be the defeats to Bozeman that will continue to resonate until the team returns to the ice.
With a chance to end junior hockey's longest ongoing winning streak, the FM Jets endured two late losses to the Bozeman Icedogs. On Nov. 18, the FM Jets overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie the game 2-2 with six minutes remaining.
However, the Icedogs tallied two goals in the final three minutes to win.
As painful as that loss was, it paled in comparison to the next night when Bozeman snapped a 3-3 tie with a goal with just 1.1 seconds remaining in regulation. The last second goal stunned a season-high crowd of 1,133, not to mention the Jets' themselves who must now recover as they embark on a stretch of 10 straight division games.
Game Time Change
Note that this Friday's game will begin at 8:05pm instead of the previously scheduled 7pm, due to a conflict.
Last Week (0-3-0)
Thurs. Nov. 17 vs. Bismarck Bobcats 2-4 Loss
Fri. Nov. 18 vs. Bozeman Icedogs 2-4 Loss
Sat. Nov. 19 vs. Bozeman Icedogs 3-4 Loss
This Week
Fri. Nov. 25 vs. Minnesota Blizzard 8:05pm (CST)
Sat. Nov. 26 @ Minnesota Blizzard 7:30pm (CST)
The FM Jets are the 2005 Borne Cup Champions and are in their third season as members of the North American Hockey League. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 30th year of operation. For more information, visit fmjets.com or call (701) 235-2354.
Jets home games are played at the John E. Carlson Coliseum in Fargo, ND. All games are broadcasted on STAR 103.9 and sportsjuice.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2005
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Returns to NAHL Action - U.S. National Team
- Tornado update - Texas Tornado
- Blizzard drop a pair at home - Alexandria Blizzard
- First place showdown this weekend for FM Jets - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Wildcats sweep weekend series - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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.
