Four teams take 2-0 leads
Published on April 9, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
Four teams jumped out to 2 games to 0 leads in their first-round, best-of-five Robertson Cup Playoffs series, including the Fargo-Moorhead Jets, who won a pair of games over North Iowa last weekend.
"Nothing is over yet, especially with us heading there for the next two games," said Jets coach Chad Johnson, whose team won the Central Division's regular-season title. "Falling into complacency would kill us, but, with that said, this is the scenario we wanted with the first two games at home."
The Jets opened the series with a 5-2 victory on Friday, as Andrew Harrison struck for two goals, including the game-winner. Chris Connolly added three assists, while goaltender Austin Lee (pictured left) turned aside 28 shots.
The next night, Lee stopped 44 North Iowa shots as Fargo-Moorhead skated to a 2-1 triumph. Brooks DeZellar and Connolly scored for the Jets.
A Minnesota State-Mankato recruit, Lee was exceptional between the pipes the entire weekend.
"Austin gave the type of playoff performance a team needs from its goaltender in order to win games," said Johnson. "[North Iowa] was able to get some great looks and Austin held them back."
Regular-season champion Mahoning Valley is also up 2-0 in its series after a pair of wins over Marquette. Dustin Cloutier scored two goals, including the game-winner, in the Phantoms' 4-1 Game 1 victory on Thursday, while goaltender Ryan Zapolski made 44 saves in Mahoning Valley's 6-2 triumph the next night.
The third seed in the North Division, Team USA won two games over Alpena last weekend, starting with a 5-4 victory on Saturday, thanks in part to a two-goal, one-assist effort by Robbie Czarnik. The U.S. team skated to a 3-2 triumph on Easter Sunday, as goaltender Adam Murray turned aside 34 shots.
In Fairbanks, Pat Maroon tallied a goal and three assists as St. Louis opened with a 6-2 win over the Ice Dogs on Saturday. The Bandits opened up a 2-0 series lead the next day as Kyle O'Kane's second goal of the game in overtime lifted St. Louis to a 3-2 triumph.
The Texas-Santa Fe and Alexandria-Southern Minnesota series are both tied at one game apiece.
ROBERSTON CUP PLAYOFFS - FIRST ROUND
Marquette Rangers vs. Mahoning Valley Phantoms
Game 1 Marquette 1 @ Mahoning Valley 4 (MV: Cloutier, G, GWG)
Game 2 Marquette 2 @ Mahoning Valley 6 (MV: Longpre, GWG, A)
Game 3 April 9 @ Marquette, 7:35 p.m.
Game 4 April 10 @ Marquette, 7:35 p.m.*
Game 5 April 14 @ Mahoning Valley, 7:30 p.m.*
Mahoning Valley leads series, 2-0
Team USA vs. Alpena IceDiggers
Game 1 USA 5 @ Alpena 4 (USA: Czarnik, G, GWG, A)
Game 2 USA 3 @ Alpena 2 (USA: Wohlberg, 2A)
Game 3 April 12 @ USA, 7:00 p.m.
Game 4 April 13 @ USA, 7:00 p.m.*
Game 5 April 14 @ Alpena, 7:00 p.m.*
USA leads series, 2-0
Fairbanks Ice Dogs vs. St. Louis Bandits
Game 1 St. Louis 6 @ Fairbanks 2 (STL: Maroon, G, 3A)
Game 2 St. Louis 3 @ Fairbanks 2 (OT) (STL: O'Kane, G, GWG)
Game 3 April 13 @ St. Louis, 7:00pm
Game 4 April 14 @ St. Louis, 7:05pm*
Game 5 April 15 @ St. Louis, 7:05pm*
St. Louis leads series, 2-0
Texas Tornado vs. Santa Fe RoadRunners
Game 1 Texas 4 @ Santa Fe 1 (TEX: Cooper, G, A)
Game 2 Texas 2 @ Santa Fe 5 (SF: Omilusik-Milhouse, 2G)
Game 3 April 13 @ Texas, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 April 14 @ Texas, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5 April 16 @ Santa Fe, 7:05 p.m.*
Series tied, 1-1
North Iowa Outlaws vs. Fargo-Moohead Jets
Game 1 North Iowa 2 @ Fargo-Moorhead 5 (FM: Harrison, G, GWG)
Game 2 North Iowa 1 @ Fargo-Moorhead 2 (FM: Lee, 44 saves)
Game 3 April 13 @ North Iowa, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4 April 14 @ North Iowa, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 5 April 16 @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:30 p.m.*
Fargo-Moorhead leads series, 2-0
Alexandria Blizzard vs. Southern Minnesota Express
Game 1 Alexandria 4 @ Southern Minnesota 1 (ALX: Burgau, 2G)
Game 2 Alexandria 1 @ Southern Minnesota 9 (SM: Inderieden, G, 4A)
Game 3 April 13 @ Alexandria, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 April 14 @ Alexandria, 7:00 p.m.
Game 5 April 15 @ Southern Minnesota, 5:05 p.m.*
Series tied, 1-1
LEADING SCORERS
PLAYER TEAM POS GP G A PTS
Inderieden, Andy SME F 2 1 4 5
Czarnik, Robbie USA F 2 3 1 4
Maroon, Pat STL F 2 1 3 4
Connolly, Chris FMH F 2 1 3 4
McCarey, Kevin USA F 2 1 3 4
LEADING GOALTENDERS
PLAYER TEAM GPI MINS W-L GAA SPCT
Zapolski, Ryan MVY 2 120:00 2-0 1.50 .959
Lee, Austin FMH 2 120:00 2-0 1.50 .960
Nagle, Pat STL 2 126:19 2-0 1.90 .920
AROUND THE NAHL
FRANKENFELD NAMED COMMISSIONER: The NAHL announced that Mark Frankenfeld has been named commissioner. Frankenfeld was serving as the league's interim commissioner since December.
KRAUS COMMITS TO BU: Alaska goaltender Adam Kraus, 19, has committed to Boston University (Hockey East) for next season. In 39 appearances in 2006-07, the Irvine, Texas, native posted a 10-23-5 record to compliment a .912 save percentage.
BILLINS TO BULLDOGS: Alpena defenseman Chad Billins, 17, has committed to Ferris State University (CCHA) for the 2006-07 season. This year, the Marysville, Mich., native tallied seven goals for 25 points in 62 regular-season games.
NUTINI TO DENVER: Second-year Wichita Falls defenseman Chris Nutini, 19, has committed to the University of Denver (WCHA) for the 2007-07 season. The Aurora, Colo., native posted two goals for seven points in 58 games this season.
CARLSON COMMITS TO OHIO STATE: Second-year Alexandria goaltender Dustin Carlson, 20, has committed to Ohio State University (CCHA) for the 2007-08 season. In 46 regular-season games, the Forest Lake, Minn., fashioned a 21-20-4 record to compliment a 2.80 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.
FILLINGER DECIDES ON FERRIS: Mahoning Valley forward Mike Fillinger, 18, has committed to Ferris State University (CCHA) for either the 2007-08 or 2008-09 season. In 52 regular-season games this year, the Grand Ledge, Mich., native recorded 44 points on 24 goals.
ALUMNI CELEBRATE NCAA TITLE: Ten former NAHL players celebrated an NCAA Division I national championship as Michigan State University defeated Boston College in the title game on Saturday, 3-1.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2007
- Four teams take 2-0 leads - NAHL
- Phantoms sweep Marquette - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Phantoms' Fillinger commits to Ferris State - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Jets One Win From Advancing - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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