Jets on Verge of Advancing in Playoffs
April 4, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) Can you remember the last time a Fargo-Moorhead Junior A hockey team won a playoff series? Think hard for a moment. Having trouble? Its probably because one has to go back almost three decades, to a time when disco balls and platform shoes where fashionable, to find the last time a FM Junior A hockey team advanced in the playoffs.
This may all change this week. Behind a pair of wins last weekend at the John E. Carlson Coliseum, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets have a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Blizzard in their Best-of-Five North American Hockey League first round series.
The top seed in the NAHL West bracket, the Jets defeated the fourth seed Blizzard 3-0 on April 1, and then won a memorable 2-1 decision on Apr. 2. Over 2,000 fans attended the two home playoff games for the Jets.
Fargo-Moorhead is now one win away from advancing to the Borne Cup Finals, where they would face the second seed Billings Bulls. Billings has already advanced following a first round sweep of the Helena Bighorns.
The Jets will get their first chance to wrap up the series on Wed. Apr. 6 in Alexandria, MN at 7:30pm. If Minnesota wins that game, the teams will play again on Apr. 7 in Alexandria at 7:30pm. The fifth-and deciding- game would be played at the Carlson Coliseum on Apr. 9 at 7:00pm, if the Blizzard win both games in Alexandria.
While the Jets stand on the brink of winning their first playoff series in franchise history, its not something that is a formality.
The Jets went 2-3-1 at Minnesota's Runestone Community Center this season. With the exception of a 6-2 win by the Jets on Nov. 26, each of the games has been decided by a single goal. The Blizzard hold a slim 16-15 goal advantage over the Jets in games played in Alexandria.
In fact, the Jets have found themselves struggling on the road for most of the second half of the season. In the 2005 calendar year, the Jets have gone 5-7-2 away from the Red River Valley. However, for the season, the Jets are still a respectable 16-12-3 (including neutral site games).
With the likelihood of the game(s) in Alexandria this week being close, their will be even more importance placed on Jets' goaltender Andy Stricker (St. George, UT), and this is a good thing for Fargo-Moorhead.
Stricker has been almost unbeatable against Minnesota this season. Including the playoffs, Stricker has three shutouts, and a .962% save percentage. Stricker has only allowed one goal in the last 375 minutes against the Blizzard, and hasn't allowed more than one Minnesota goal since a 6-3 win on October 9, 2004.
The Jets will also be looking at veteran forwards to score the necessary goals for a clinching victory. Phil Fox (Stillwater, MN) already has 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) while other veterans Tom Dickhudt (Woodbury, MN), Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, MN) and Paul Solberg (Maple Grove, MN) have 2 points each.
Rookie Brent Olson (Baudette, MN) has also emerged onto the scene, continuing his stellar run that he started in March. Olson also has 3 points (all assists) in the series thus far.
On the other side, the Minnesota Blizzard have been lacking an offensive punch. Andrew Olson has the team's lone postseason goal with an assist to Dan Swanson.
Friday April 1 Jets 3 Minnesota Blizzard 0 Game One NAHL West Semi-Final
Lindsay Czarnecki â Media Relations Assistant
Fargo (ND) The offensive line of Phil Fox (Stillwater, MN), Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, MN), and Brent Olson (Baudette, MN) accounted for two of the Fargo-Moorhead Jets' three goals and goaltender Andy Stricker (St. George, UT) made 22 saves as the Jets' defeated the Minnesota Blizzard 3-0 in the first game of the North American Hockey League West Division semi-final playoffs.
The Jets connected for one goal in each of the three periods and Stricker picked up his third shutout of the season to ice the #4 seed Blizzard.
The win is the first by a FM junior A team since March 26, 1997.
It took the Jets over 14 minutes into the first period to net their first goal. While it seemed as though Blizzard goalie Marcus Paulson had the puck covered, Fox was able to get his stick on the puck and put in the first goal of the game. Assists were credited to Olson and Paul Solberg.
The period ended with a 1-0 score with the Jets out-shooting the Blizzard 13-6.
The second period resulted in many close calls for the Jets. Just over two minutes into the period it took Creighton Scarpone (Buchanan, MI) deliberately pushing the net off to stop a goal, if not, the net was plenty open with the Blizzard swarming the net.
Then, halfway through the period, while the Jets were on the power play, goalie Andy Stricker accidentally passed the puck directly to a Blizzard player and Drew Mahar (Olympia, WA) went down to block the shot, otherwise Stricker was at the circles and completely out of position to make a save.
The Jets' second goal came at 16:03 when Dain Prewitt (Westminster, CO) sent home a wrister from the left face-off dot with the assist going to Tom Dickhudt (Woodbury, MN).
In the third period the Jets gave themselves an even bigger lead when Myhro scored his team-leading 28th goal of the season. Assists went to Olson and Fox. Both Fox and Olson finished the game with two points apiece.
Despite being out shot 40-22, the Blizzard had many chances to score during the game but went 0-6 on the power play.
The win came in front of a crowd of 1,113 fans at the John E. Carlson Coliseum.
Saturday April 2 Jets 2 Minnesota Blizzard 1 Game Two NAHL West Semi-Final
Lindsay Czarnecki â Media Relations Assistant
Fargo (ND)It took a goal from Phil Fox (Stillwater, MN) with just 38 seconds left in regulation to lift the Jets to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Blizzard in the second game of the first round of the North American Hockey League West Division playoffs. With the win the Jets take a 2-0 lead with the series heading to Alexandria on Wednesday.
With the Jets swarming in front of the Blizzard net, Fox seemed to be all alone and was able to hit home the game-winner at the 19:24 mark of the third. The goal allowed the Jets to let out a huge sigh of relief as it looked as though the game was headed to overtime. The assists on the goal went to Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, MN) and Brent Olson (Baudette, MN).
Other scoring for the Jets started early in the game when Tom Dickhudt (Woodbury, MN) somehow got his stick on the puck after it was thrown towards the net by Paul Solberg (Maple Grove, MN) just over six minutes into the period.
In the second period the only scoring came for the Blizzard and while they were on the power play. At 9:48 into the period, Andrew Olson picked the puck up behind the net and wrapped it around too quick enough for Jet goalie Andy Stricker (St. George, UT) to get into position. The goal was unassisted and counted as the Blizzard's first of the series.
With the score tied 1-1 going into the third period the pressure was on the #1 seeded Jets to pull through a victory. With nine minutes left it seemed as though their call would be answered when Ryan Cramer (International Falls, MN) had a wide open net but missed high. After that, play started to get very chipping between the two teams. As a result, experienced Jet defenseman Creighton Scarpone (Buchanan, MI) and Blizzard defenseman Bobby Kuehl were both handed 10-minute misconducts and left the game. Afterwards the Jets continued to pick up their play while the Blizzard tried to hold their own by constantly icing the puck or simply flipping it out of their zone. For the remaining of the period it looked like the Blizzard would force an overtime period until Fox connected for his second game-winner in as many games.
Last Week's Results
4/1 Minnesota 3-0 Win
4/2 Minnesota 2-1 Win
This Week's Games
4/6 @ Minnesota 7:30pm (Game 3 of Borne Cup Semis)
4/7 * @ Minnesota 7:30pm (Game 4 of Borne Cup Semis)
4/9 * Minnesota 7:05pm (Game 5 of Borne Cup Semis)
* If Necessary
The FM Jets are in their second 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 29th 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 April 4, 2005
- Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary - Alexandria Blizzard
- Wildcats Begin Playoff Series With Tornado - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jets on Verge of Advancing in Playoffs - 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.
