Jets Split Weekend Games
Published on December 18, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) It was no different than a boxer who is hit by a haymaker right, staggers backwards but recovers with a left uppercut. The boxer is still wounded, but no where near hitting the canvas. As was the case with the Fargo-Moorhead Jets who suffered an absolute beating to Alexandria, only to recover and play one of their most complete games of the season in a win over Bismarck the next night.
"We aren't concerned with what has happened, only with the way the players respond today" said head coach Chad Johnson. "We can't be concerned with any carry-over effect from games whether good or bad and everyone got a great example of that this weekend.
On Friday, the FM Jets plodded through the team's worst loss in franchise history, a 12-1 beat down on home ice to the cellar-dwelling Alexandria Blizzard. The FM Jets trailed 4-0 after the first period, and 9-0 midway into the second before rookie Greg Braun (Carmel, IN) notched his first-ever Junior A hockey goal to prevent the shutout.
Alexandria held a 43-31 shots on goal advantage, connecting on 27% of their shots, an obscenely high number in a hockey game. The typical percentage is between 10-15%. The Blizzard also took advantage on the power play, going 4/1 despite the fact they entered the game with the second worst power play in the North American Hockey League.
By the time the game finally ended, the FM Jets had rotated through two goaltenders and had suffered an 11-goal setback, the largest margin of defeat in the entire NAHL this season.
"It wasn't a good game, and we had some players who were just along for the ride and it showed. However, we can only concern ourselves with the next game" commented Johnson before the team's game the following night in Bismarck in a renewal of the North Dakota rivalry.
In one of the team's finest performances of the season to date, the FM Jets came away with a strong 5-1 win on the road over their rivals the Bobcats. It was an outing that likely frustrated all the amateur psychologists out there who predicted doom and gloom about the team's mental make up after the Alexandria route the night before.
Within the first three minutes, a pair of rookies stepped up in fights with two of Bismarck's veterans. Marc Mihulka (Grand Forks, ND) worked over David Kirsch in a bout right off the opening face-off. A few minutes later, Grant Larson (Fargo, ND) held his own against Ryan Kayfes.
Sandwiched in between the fisticuffs was a goal by Bismarck to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Nevertheless, the FM Jets responded with the next five starting with Chris Connolly's (Duluth, MN) tally in the final minute of the first period. In the second period, Robby Phillip (Thief River Falls, MN) scored on a power play for the eventual game winner at 3:18. The FM Jets received an insurance goal from Ryan Adams (Deloraine, MB) two minutes later, and a short-handed goal from Matt Moreland (Grand Forks, ND) at 16:52. Moreland capped the scoring with a third period goal.
Elliot Okland (Fargo, ND) made 29 saves for the win.
Shot Percentage
The FM Jets are scoring on just 9.1% of their shots, the fourth lowest in the NAHL. Last season, the FM Jets had a 9.2% and in 2004-2005 it was 10.4% A good number to have is around 11%, which would add up to another goal every 30 shots.
Penalty Kill Drought Over
Bismarck went 0/6 on the power play on Saturday night, ending a streak of six consecutive games in which the FM Jets' opponents had scored a power play goal against. During that drought, the FM Jets' penalty kill was only 78% in those six games.
Holiday Break
Following their Dec.22nd game at Alexandria, the FM Jet players will go on an abbreviated holiday break before returning for their next game Dec. 29th at Bismarck. The six-day "break" is tied for the shortest in the team's history by one day. In 2003-2004, the players also had a six-day break.
In 2004-2005 it was a seven day break and in 2005-2006 it was an 11-day break.
13 of the 17 NAHL teams are in action this week. The average holiday break this season in the NAHL is nine days Alaska has the longest layoff of 18-days. Bismarck, Southern Minnesota, Wichita Falls and St. Louis have the shortest at just 5 days.
In the nation's other Junior A league, the United States Hockey League, every team is off from Dec. 18th until games on Dec. 29th.
Gift Wrapping
If your significant other is no longer willing too accept their gift stuffed in a box with some newspaper covering it, remember that the Fargo Optimist Club is wrapping gifts all this week at the West Acres Mall's northwest and northeast entrances. FM Jet players will be assisting the Optimist once again this week each evening from Monday through Thursday.
Streaking
The NAHL's Mahoning Valley Phantoms have been beaten this season, including a loss to the FM Jets in September. However, they haven't been defeated often and not at all in the past two months. The Phantoms are on an 18-game winning streak, having not lost since a 2-1 loss at Team USA on Oct. 21st.
Mahoning Valley's 18-game streak is now challenging the record books. The 2003-2004 Texas Tornado hold the record with 25 straight wins, while the 2005-2006 Bozeman Icedogs won 20 in a row.
NAHL Commissioner Change
Eric Krupka's regime as the commissioner of the NAHL lasted less than half a season. Last Friday, the NAHL Board of Governors replaced Krupka as commissioner with Mark Frankenfeld on an interim basis. Frankenfeld served as the interim commissioner during the summer after Michael Santos's resignation.
New Rule Standards' Effect on Scoring
This season, NAHL games are averaging about 6 goals per game. Last season, the average was roughly the same. Of course, this is the first season of the stricter interpretation of interference penalties with the goal being to drastically increase scoring.
Last season, Team USA led the NAHL with 4.4 gpg with three other teams averaging over 4.0. This season, Mahoning Valley leads the NAHL with 4.4 gpg, but no other team is over 4.0.
Hitting the Road
FM Jet fans may feel out of place this weekend, because for the first time since Oct. 20-21, the FM Jets' don't have any home games at the Carlson Coliseum. This weekend snaps a streak of nine consecutive weekends with at least one home game for the FM Jets.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2006
- IceDiggers head into NAHL break on winning note - Alpena IceDiggers
- Texas Tornado holiday update - Texas Tornado
- Wildcats Battle with Tornado - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Fairbanks to host Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament - NAHL
- Jets Split Weekend Games - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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