Jets Begin Home Stand Against Bismarck This Weekend
March 1, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) It's a series that has so many possible outcomes and with numerous underlying themes that it's like being at a buffet. So many choices, but the stomach can only handle so much. In any case, fans will certainly get their fill this weekend as the Fargo-Moorhead Jets face-off against their North Dakota rivals the Bismarck Bobcats at the Carlson Coliseum on Friday and Saturday at 7:05pm.
The FM Jets - losers of four of their last five - stumbled out of the month of February with a 31-17-3 mark and holding a precarious four-point lead over Southern Minnesota for first place in the North American Hockey League's Central Division. Not far behind are the Bismarck Bobcats, whose torrid second half pace has put them at 26-18-4 and only nine points back of the FM Jets.
Needless to say, with one month remaining in the regular season there is plenty to be decided.
Will the FM Jets win their second consecutive division title?
Will the FM Jets at least earn home ice in the first round of the playoffs?
Who will the FM Jets first round opponent be?
The results of this weekend -while they won't close the book on those questions - will give plenty of clues to the ultimate answer. Though there is one major question that could be learned this weekend, one that has added importance because this could be a playoff preview.
Will the FM Jets be able to turn the tables in this season series in which Bismarck has been dominate since November?
Since winning the first three games of the season series, the FM Jets have lost five straight to Bismarck, including four games at the Carlson Coliseum. The FM Jets are winless at home against Bismarck this season.
The Bobcats have outscored the FM Jets 16-6 in the past five games and much of the credit can go to goaltender Tim Krystosek. Since entering the series in the third period of the Nov. 4 match-up, Krystosek has been masterful against the FM Jets, going 5-0 with a 1.65 GAA and 96% save percentage. In the five starts he has had, the FM Jets have failed to score more than two goals against him in any single game. Krystosek also shutout the FM Jets 3-0 on New Years' Eve in Bismarck.
At the Carlson Coliseum, Bismarck has outscored the home-standing FM Jets 15-6. Actually, Bismarck has had success in Fargo that most other teams haven't been able to equal as the FM Jets are only 8-10-1 all-time in home games against their rivals.
Eric Kattelus and Jacques Lamoureux have grounded the FM Jets all season with 12 points and 11 points respectively. Kattelus leads Bismarck with 6 goals in the series, while Sean McWhorter has 5 goals. Kattelus' strikes have been particularly meaningful has he has 4-game winning goals. Meanwhile, McWhorter has scored 4 of his tallies on the power play.
Bismarck power play has clicked at 23% in the series.
For the FM Jets Kai Kantola (Raleigh, NC) and Connolly each has 8 points, including 4 goals each. The FM Jets are only 2/33 (6.0%) on the power play against Bismarck.
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.
Jets home games are played at the John E. Carlson Coliseum in Fargo, ND. All games are broadcast at 103.9 THE TRUCK and fmjets.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2006
- NAHL players of the week - NAHL
- NAHL announces 2006 playoff format, Mahoning Valley Phantoms to host Robertson Cup Tournament - NAHL
- Jets Begin Home Stand Against Bismarck This Weekend - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- IceDiggers meet and greet at JJ's Steak and Pizza - Alpena IceDiggers
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