Jets Tie It Up and Let It Go 4-3
March 12, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
(Fargo, ND) It was a repeat of last night as the Jets fell, once again, to the Southern Minnesota Express 4-3. The game-winning goal would come from Brodhag on a penalty kill. This would be Brodhag's second goal of the night. Jets' defensemen Erick Galt also scored two tonight, but his goals, along with Andrew Muir's, couldn't put the icing on the cake.
Four Jets veterans stepped onto the ice to open the tangle with the Express. As per usual, the opening draw went to the Jets with Andrew Harrison to send the puck down. Contrary to last night, the Jets seemed to be playing a bit more casually, giving the Express plenty of opportunities to pack in the action. Just after two minutes of play, the Express took one of those opportunities as Unklesbay struck first while Okland had slipped behind the net after coming out to play the puck. Okland could only watch the puck careen into the goal through the mesh.
Trailing 1-0 early in the period should have given the Jets a little more motivation, but they only seemed to find some bad estimation of passes and plenty of penalties. At the 11:15 mark, the Jets were able to test Zach Hansen's wingspan in the cage, and even though the Express goalie was lacking in size, he made up for it in saves. The Jets weren't even able to execute a goal during a brief segment of 5-on-3 around the nine minute stanza.
A penalty kill at 6:50 marked the second Express goal of the night. A minute into the kill, Beaudoin got a shot directly to the top right shelf to put the Jets at a 2-0 deficit. The crowd cringed as the Jets received another penalty kill off the stick of Galt at 4:53. This time, though, the Jets weren't ready for another goal between their posts! Marc Harrie caught a breakaway and it took his stick, skate, and right glove to maneuver a pass to Andrew Muir for a shorthanded goal at 4:09.
This was exactly the kind of incentive the Jets needed. Immediately going from casual to black tie optional, the Jets finished out the period strong to leave the score at 2-1.
After a trip to the locker room, the Jets came out for the second period with a fresher attitude. It took a little over five minutes, but after two consecutive penalties on the Express, the Jets went 5 on 3 for the second time tonight. The Jets seemed to be lovin' the 5 on 3 action as Erick Galt recorded a big time blast from the right circle at 14:15 to tie the score at deuces.
The ice seemed to be a little slippery around the cages tonight as Okland tipped over for a second time. Flopping on his stomach just outside the left of the cage, Okland sprawled all 6 feet, 3 inches to slap his glove down over a puck that was slowly edging into the goal. Talk about phenomenal saves!
But the saves didn't last. With exactly five minutes left in the period, Brodhag found an opening and slapped the puck through Okland's legs right before he closed up shop to give the Express a 3-2 lead. Two Jets' penalties later, Okland found himself being tested again... this time with only three men to help him out. With a beautiful defense and another great save, the Jets fought off the 5-on-3 kill and ended the second still trailing 3-2.
The third period would play host to another plethora of power plays, but the Jets just couldn't capitalize on the advantage. Even a 74 second 5-on-3 wouldn't help the Jets out tonight. Okland stayed solid for the first half of the period, but at 9:56 Brodhag recorded his second goal of the night, shorthanded to double the score 4-2. As time drained away, Okland was finally pulled from the goal to give the Jets an extra attacker. This did the trick as Erick Galt scored his second goal of the night with another blast through Hansen and his defense. Less than two minutes left on the clock and another goal needed to tie it up, the Jets needed to dig in their skates for the remaining buck fifty-nine. Luck was not on their side as the last few seconds dripped off the clock and the buzzer sounded with 4-3 on the board
The Jets didn't snag any points tonight, but still lay within two of Alexandria. Back on the road bright and early tomorrow morning, the Jets will look to the weekend for the answer. A victory is definitely required if the Jets want to see themselves in the playoffs.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2008
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