Jets Bitten Twice Shy, 4-2
January 25, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
(Fargo, ND) Once again, the Jets were on home ice as they took on the Alexandria Blizzard tonight for the ninth time this season. In their last tangle, the Jets took a hard fall and lost 5-3, putting them behind the Blizzard in the standings. Tonight was the same story as the Jets got to taste the flavor of victory with a 2-0 lead, but lost it as the Blizzard raked in 4 consecutive goals to end the game 4-2.
The first period started with a bang as the first face off went to the Jets and then rocketed right back into their zone and the Blizzard took early control. But that control didn't last for long, since the puck seemed to have a mind of its own as it skidded around the rink with no rhyme or reason.
The puck did seem to be playing in the Jets' favor, though, spending most of its time hanging around the Blizzard slot... but sliding right on through without being touched. With just over four minutes off the clock, Mark Harrie was called for hooking, forcing the first penalty kill for the Jets. Fighting it off beautifully, the Jets rallied back with defenseman Tyler Klien bringing the puck back up along the boards and feeding it through the slot.
The puck didn't make it into the goal, but it did result in another hooking call, but for the Blizzard, which proved unsuccessful. At the 6:00 minute mark, Okland made the save of his life. Coming out of the goal to force the Blizzard forward to go wide and left, Okland had to spring off of his skates and sprawl in the opposite direction to barely knock the puck off its trip to the goal with just his glove. The period ended with another penalty kill, as well as another power play, to keep the score tied at zeros.
The second period proved to be quite interesting, as the actual players slid through the goal more often than the puck did. Both Tyler Klien and Dakota Collins scored goals with their bodies during the 20 minute stint. As for the puck, both goalies were as solid as the ice they were playing on, making save after incredible save. Two fights almost broke out on the ice as well, which sent Mark Harrie and Tyler Klien from the Jets, as well as Brandon Bahnemann and Joe Hartman from theBlizzard to the penalty box.
It seemed as though everything BUT scoring was happening on the ice. The Jets were give opportunity after opportunity to score, but to no avail, Blizzard goalie, Ryan Leets' game was too tight to let even a puck slip through tonight. But everything Leets could do, Okland matched him save for save. Struggling through another penalty kill and two more one man advantages, the Jets finished the second period with one minute left on the power play and still two donuts on the scoreboard.
With a scoreless first two periods, the third was destined to tell the story. For those who stayed for the third period, they got their money's worth. Again, the Jets won the face-off to start with a 5 on 4 advantage. The period started just like any other, but then the action came to town. Jordy Trottier finally found a way to sneak the puck past Leets to accomplish the first power play goal and the first goal of the night to break into the lead at 1-0 after only 37 seconds.
Less than three minutes later, Mark Mihulka doubled the Jets' luck to get the second goal of the game to increase the lead to 2-0. The deal was almost sealed, but then, the Blizzard came out of nowhere with 1, 2, 3, 4 goals attributed to Taylor Vichorek, Luke Nesper, Garrett Grimstead, and Mikael Lickteig (open goal) to upend the Jets 4-2.
With another loss on the board, the Jets have tomorrow night to stop their home game losing streak against the Bismarck Bobcats.
The FM Jets Junior A Hockey Club is in its fifth 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 32nd 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 fmjets.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2008
- Jets Bitten Twice Shy, 4-2 - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- U.S. National under-17 falls to Traverse City - Traverse City North Stars
- Cardwell Signs with University of Alaska-Fairbanks - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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