Jets Powerless in Owatonna, 3-2
February 24, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
(Owatonna, MN) Special teams win games and Southern MN knew it then used it for 3-2 win at home as they hold on to second place in the Central.
Elliot Okland started in net and was given an early 1-0 lead by Brandon Bukowski on a shot just inside the blue line. Express goalie Zach Hansen misplayed the shot from Brandon and was left out of position. The lead wouldn't last long as Marco Ruggeri beat Okland later in the first to make it 1-1. The period ended even on the board and with the Express out shooting the Jets 8-6. The Jets had been searching for an answer on the man advantage all weekend and surely didn't find it in the first.
With back-to-back power-plays to open the early stages of the second period nothing was gained for the Jets. Andrew Harrison would be found on the right side of Hansen by Trottier to give the Jets another lead at 2-1. Little did they know that it would be the last goal of the game just 4:25 into the second period? The game remained locked, stocked and fully loaded with scoring chances all around for each squad. Until, that this is Mark Johnson was whistled for hooking and he went to the box to served 2:00 minutes adding to his only 37 minutes all season in the box. That hooked proved to be costly as Express defenseman Robby Spalding blasted a shot from the point while Okland booted a left leg rebound out for Brandon Brodhag to put home. That goal came at 18:23 mark of the second and tied the game at 2-2.
"It's not like we didn't have our chances tonight. I mean when you can't set your offense effectively on the power-play you can't score," stated a frustrated coach Kinslow.
The third period opened with Southern MN working a 5-on-3 power-play with momentum carrying over from the Brodhag goal. After the Jets killed both chances things started to look bright until Spalding went into the top cupboard for the go ahead goal again. Okland would hold the fort down from there on out but received no help and took yet another loss. Late in the game Justin Kirchhevel ripped one off the post which would've tied the game as Hansen broke down early. Hansen wasn't flashy by any stretch of mean but did use the team in front of him to gain the win.
Overall, special teams played an important role in the Express 4-3 and 3-2 sweep of the Jets as they got five goals via the PP or PK. The Jets were a hideous (2 of 22) on the man advantage as the Southern MN nabbed (4 of 14) and short-hander in the four point weekend. Trottier finished with two more dishes to add to his total of 22. The Jets once again find themselves back in fifth place with Alexandria winning in a shootout at Bismarck 6-5 and Springfield drubbing of North Iowa 7-0.
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 February 24, 2008
- Phantoms Fall 5-1 to Bandits; St. Louis Sweeps Weekend - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- U.S. National Under-17 Team Blanks Alpena, 2-0 - U.S. National Team
- Jr. Blues take two of three from first Place North Iowa - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Jets Powerless in Owatonna, 3-2 - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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