Jets update
Published on January 28, 2008 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Friday Night 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, Marc Harrie was called for hooking, forcing the first penalty kill for the Jets. Fighting it off beautifully, the Jets rallied back with defenseman Tyler Klein 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 Klein 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 Marc Harrie and Tyler Klein from the Jets, as well as Brandon Bahnemann and Joe Hartman from the Blizzard 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 -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, Marc 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 (empty net goal) to upend the Jets 4-2.
Saturday Night The Jets' engines were roaring as Marc Mihulka, Tyler Klein, Jordy Trottier, Mark Johnson, and Tim Niedzielak took the ice with Elliot Okland minding the goal. Coming from a 4-2 let down last night against the Blizzard, the Jets were looking for their first home game win since early November. But, as the Bobcats just scraped by with a 3-2 win, the Jets began to wonder if the John E. Carlson coliseum was cursed.
As the puck dropped, Marc Mihulka peeled it off the center line to help the Jets swipe the face-off and give Jordy Trottier the first shot of the game just thirty seconds later which was sniped by the glove of Bobcat goalie, Jake Kremer. Little did Kremer know that he would have his work cut out for him tonight as that was one of the many saves that he would have to contest from the Jets' machine gun?
At 16:38, Tyler Klein shot what everyone thought would be the first goal of the night, but not only did the puck end up in the net, but Klein and Kremer came tumbling after. Not to worry, though, because the Jets rebuked that not even two minutes later. Newcomer Kurt Weston made a beautiful pass across the slot to give Andrew Muir the first goal of the night on a silver platter as he shot the puck clear past Kramer's shoulder and into the goal.
Bobcat forward, Tobias Falk, decided he wanted in on the fine dining tonight and put a slap shot from the left circle past the shoulder of Okland to tie the game at ones with just over a minute left on the clock. Ending the period shorthanded from a high-sticking penalty on Tyler Swanson, the time ran away with no chance for seconds for either team.
In the second period, it was Marc Harrie and Will Aide to get the crowd a little rowdy. Dropping gloves, sticks, and then helmets, David and goliath would dueling it out with punches and shoves, but were sent to the box before the dispute was settled. With a hiss, the Bobcats doubled the score as Eric Herbel faked a pass and delicately slipped the puck through Okland's legs to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.
With the Bobcats constantly incessantly penetrating the Jets' zone, Okland was forced to rely on his fellow Jets' to clear the puck out of the terminal. But, as soon as that happened, a quick turnover from Will Aide brought a three-man pack of Bobcats careening towards the goal. With only Mason Swenson there to take them on, the triumvirate easily overtook him. Thrown onto his back, the only thing Okland could do was watch, upside-down, as the puck slowly rolled past the goal line, bringing the 'Cats up by a pair of goals.
The Jets continued to put Kremer to the test, but he unfortunately seemed to have learned from his earlier mistake and passed with flying colors. With 2:34 left on the clock, a short scuffle resulted in both teams losing their #19s to the penalty box with hopes that their opponents wouldn't score a goal in their absence. And sure enough, the period came to a finish with the Bobcats leading 3-1.
Entering the third period trailing by two goals, the Jets needed to start cooking some action. Haunted with the ghost of power play past, the Jets got another opportunity to make something happen as the Bobcats received the first penalty of the period at 13:30, courtesy of Jordy Trottier. Just: 24 seconds later, the plague lifted as Mihulka dished out an assist to Marc Harrie to put the Jets back in to the running at 3-2.
With the scoreless power-play streak out of the way, the Jets had a little more spirit in their sticks and skates, but with just under two minutes left in the game and no further scoring, coach Chad Johnson rallied the team together to make a quick flight plan to tie the score at threes. The fans started voicing their opinion as an off sides call on Klein cost the Jets a scoring opportunity. And that missed opportunity also cost them the game, continuing a home game losing streak at 3-2.
Andrew Muir and Marc Harrie both collected goals tonight, but it wasn't enough as they were overpowered by goals from Tobias Falk, Eric Herbel, and Will Aide, kicking the Jets out of the fourth place spot and down to the bottom of the barrel. With this weekend's home stand gone with the North Dakota wind, the Jets have next week to look to for a much needed home game win.
The Jets welcome North Iowa to town starting on Thursday and Friday at 7:35pm. Don't forget that Thursday is "College Night," and students from all corners of the world can get in the door for only $5.00 and enjoy ice cold taps for a buck...what a buck? Yeah, just you try and beat that deal because the coolest game in the Red River Valley takes place at the John E when the Jets play. Jets hockey, more than a game!
Too Close for Comfort Sinatra sung it and the Jets have reached it, meaning the bottom of the Central division. Yes, my fans it has happened and for how long we don't know. The flight can be corrected this week as the best the division has to offer rides the rails into town come Thursday and Friday at 7:35pm. The Outlaws own the best record in the Central and second best in the North American Hockey League. The Jets are searching for their first win of the season against North Iowa having dropped the first eight contests thus far.
Home of the Winless Jets The ghost that has haunted many in this place continues to disallow wins since early November and though games have been close as of late. The Coliseum which once served as the corner stone of wins for the Jets has fallen to 7-12-1 this season. It was earlier this year that fans got a taste of winning and coming back on a higher note.
On Top of the World Marc Mihulka wears the "C" for the simple fact that captains this flight day in and day out. A hard working man on the ice Marc has gathered 36 points (12G, 24A) in just 37 games. Mark Johnson leads all defensemen with 19 points (8G, 11A) and a plus- 7.
Look Around the League
Alexandria vs. Southern MN L 4-3
Bismarck vs. North Iowa L 3-1 and L 6-2
North American Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2008
- RoadRunners making noise in South - NAHL
- U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Weekly - U.S. National Team
- Jets update - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Jets Name Player of the Week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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