Jets weekly
February 18, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Thursday Night For the second consecutive holiday against the Bobcats the Jets came out strong and cruised to a 5-0 win with five different players scoring.
The game started fast and furious as the Jets struck 7:00 minutes in courtesy of Mark Jonson driving the puck in deep on Jake Kremer creating a loose rebound for Tyler Klein to bury. After limiting Bismarck to low percentage shots, the Jets turned a Bobcat power-play into a Mike Schumacher short-handed goal on a perfect feed from Andrew Muir to push the lead 2-0, Jets. After killing off a Bobcat penalty to close out the first period it would be the period that would solidify the night at 2-0.
The second period once again opened with the Jets controlling the tempo, puck and score until Robby Philipp sniped a crisp feed from Marc Mihulka on the power-play to give the Jets a 3-0 lead. So far the Jets had used special teams to get the party started on Valentine's Day. When push came to shove the Jets owned the Bobcats in their own den after two periods, 3-0. Jet's goal tender Adam Buegler stopped a total of 18 shots after two periods of play.
The TKO was delivered in the third as Jordy Trottier blasted home his 10th goal of the season on the power-play and it was 4-0. Another late goal by Marc Harrie made it 5-0 and the Jets would never look back. Harrie's goal was shot down like a duck in mid flight and snuck past an unsuspecting Kremer to make up for his fans earlier this year on the doorstep. After all was said and done the Jets came, saw and conquered Bismarck 5-0.
In his first start of the season and his first of his North American Hockey League career, Buegler back stopped the Jets to a 5-0 win with 30 saves. Special combined for three goals including 2-5 on the man advantage. Klein and Trottier finished with a goal and an assist each while Mihulka added two more assists to his team leading 26. Buegler took home star number one for his performance and the Jets will need him again Friday in Fargo. The Bobcats meanwhile have been shut out by the Jets on the two holiday games this year, 11-0.
Friday Night It was a close call tonight as the Jets took on the Bobcats for the second time this week and ran them out of the John E. with a 2-1 overtime win. The score was tied at ones for almost two entire periods, but Jets' veteran Marc Harrie landed the game winning goal in the last two minutes of overtime to draw blood and pull out another home ice win.
The Bobcats found out quickly that big things come in small packages as Marc Harrie easily picked off the puck right down to Eric Galt to start the period. Within 13 seconds, Joe Beaudette was given his first scoring opportunity, but with a right leg save, Bobcat goalie Grogan shot it right back down. With another two shots to the right leg, Grogan started to feel like he was playing the hokey pokey.
The Bobcats received the first penalty, giving the Jets their first power play opportunity only 37 seconds off the clock. Less than two minutes later, and still on the power play, Beaudette got a second chance to score. With a special delivery from Mihulka and Philipp, Beaudette planted the puck square in the back of Grogan's cage for an early 1-0 lead. The only thing Grogan could do was ask if Beaudette wanted fries with that.
With the boards getting just as bruised up as the players, penalties were being called left and right. Bukowski, Harrie, and Swanson visited the box while Bobcats' forward Lund visited the locker room for unsportsmanlike conduct after crashing into Jets' goalie, Adam Buegler. The Jets' defenses were tight as they picked off pass after pass from the Bobcats' swats and held their lead to finish off the period 1-0.
Starting the second period a man short, the Bobcats easily pawed the face-off away from the Jets. The boards and the ice continued to get beaten on as both teams continued to rough each other up even more so than the previous period. While there didn't seem to be too much hockey going on, the fans definitely were getting their money's worth. However, the Bobcats eventually buttered up the puck with a top shelfer from Kyle Lund to stop Buegler's shut out streak at 92:16.
It was Harris Cubed (Jeffrey, Kevin, and Donny) to attack during the Jets' penalty kills. While they didn't score again this period, they were a dominating force on the ice, making it almost impossible for the Jets to clear the puck out of their zone. Michael Schumacher had a huge opportunity with just over six minutes on the clock, but failed to pull the trigger on his way through the crease.
With roughing penalties called on Eric Galt, Robby Phillip, Kyle Lund, and Will Aide, Galt and Phillip headed to the box and Aide followed in Lund's footsteps from the first period and headed into the locker room, to leave the period ending with cat eyes (1-1).
Continuing the pattern, the Jets came into the third period down a man and lost the third face-off. Both teams thoroughly frustrated with each other's tight defense and tough offense, the third period proved to be just a test of time and willpower. Both goalies catching blast after blast, made for an even closer game. Missed opportunities through the slot and the crease left the third period still gridlocked at ones and only overtime to look to.
Overtime was where the action happened as a perfect opportunity flew right by the jets as the pass through the crease landed right into the stick of the 'cat at the back door. But that didn't stop the Jets: veteran Marc Harrie came out of nowhere with a one time blast to win the game 2-1 with 1:22 left in overtime.
Saturday Night The Jets wrote Slaughterhouse 6 tonight as they refused to let the cat out of the bag and downed the Bismarck Bobcats 6-0. With Adam Buegler manning the cage like it was his life, and Marc Harrie racking another game-winning goal, the Jets perfected and displayed the art of solid hockey at the John E.
Contrary to last night's game, Marc Harrie was unable to clinch the face-off, leaving Derek Kohles of the Bobcats to win the draw. But the Jets put the pressure on early, stealing the puck right out of the Bobcat's paws and bringing it right back down to Grogan in the cage. Trottier, with his pink stick adorned with hot pink flames, claimed the first shot of the night, but the Bobcats would be able to hold the Jets off for a little bit longer.
A holding call to the Bobcats would give the Jets the power play advantage with 12:29 left on the clock. And, as if it was a replay of last night, Joe Beaudette was given another special delivery-this time at 11:44. Assists from Jordy Trottier and Andrew Harrison gave Beaudette the first goal of the night. Even though the Jets were missing Mihulka, Philipp, and Johnson tonight, they didn't cease to keep the engines going.
With over half the period left and a 1-0 lead, the Jets were playing for the win. Having Adam Buegler still solid in the goal gave the Jets every opportunity to attack the Bobcats' zone. Then, for the second time tonight, Grogan was forced to hang his head and pull the puck out of the back of his net. The Jets ascended to an easy 2-0 lead from a blue line blast in the name of Sean McNeely. No one saw it coming; even Grogan thought he'd made the save. He would then have the remainder of the period to contemplate the two goal lead.
The Jets started the second period a man short, which would soon turn into a 5 on 3 disadvantages before the first minute had ended, which was fought off brilliantly. At 15:46, Jets came back with their own power play advantage, which started the scoring streak for the second period. Off a huge blast from Eric Galt at the top of the left circle, Andrew Harrison found the rebound to bring the Jets to a 3-0 lead.
Adam Buegler continued to stay strong, and with the help of blocked shots from his teammates, kept the Bobcat shots on goal to a minimum. Even a loose puck didn't faze him as he simply stuck his glove out and snatched the puck out of the air to stop the Bobcat attack. Shortly after that save, Buegler was taken by surprise as he was pounced on, correction: sacked by a Bobcat forward. A flock of players flew into the goal and it was Marc Harrie to be sent to the box with Eric Lund.
Another penalty on the Jets gave the Bobcats their sixth power play advantage of the evening, but that meant absolutely nothing to the Jets. In retaliation for the mugging of their goalie, Michael Schumacher and Andrew Muir combined forces on a breakaway to put a 4 up on the board, leaving the Bobcats trailing by a quad.
The fun didn't stop there as Pat Dietz fed an assist to Justin Kirchhevel to score the fifth goal of the night to the Bobcats' zero. Grogan then skated away from the cage and wished his teammate Jake Kramer better luck in defending the cage. Boasting a 5-0 lead, nothing could rattle the Jets at this point.
With two more power plays come and gone, another fight broke out and Jordy Trottier was sent to the box, leaving behind his gloves, helmet, and stick. The entire brigade of Jets and Bobcats seemed to follow, and the penalty box looked like a clown car. After everything was sorted out, the period ended with a double advantage: 5 men to 3 men and 5 goals to none.
Jets won the third period draw with almost a solid two minutes of 5 on 3 man hockey, and it proved fruitful as Eric galt racked his second assist of the night and Marc Harrie topped off the scoring at 6, giving him is second game winning goal of the weekend. After the 18:37 goal, there wasn't much else to talk about in regards to hockey. The question on everyone's minds was how many players can you fit in a penalty box?
It seemed as though ten seconds couldn't go by without a fight. Gloves, helmets, and sticks flew everywhere... it was a yardsale, to say the least.
Not only were there too many penalties to count, but game ejections received from Justin Kirchhevel, Andrew Harrison, Will Aide, Derek Kohles, and Devin Schmitt made it impossible for either team to do anything but keep it clean from there on out. And that's how it was. Adam Buegler performed another 60 minutes of solid, scoreless hockey, leaving the Jets with an astounding 6-0 shut out.
With another two points going towards their standings, the Jets have overtaken the Bobcats, and sit one point back of the Blizzard in the standings. The Jets will be taking on the Blizzard and Express later this month, and another couple wins on the record will only help them move upward.
Powered Up In the three game set, the Jets were 7 for 19 on the man advantage and it lead to all three wins. Though they out scored the Bobcats 13-1, it was nice to see the PP clicking again getting over 50 percent of the goals scored. On the season the Jets are 18.04 percent with the extra skater.
Hit the Road Jack The Jets will take their game on the road against Alexandria and Southern MN this week to take on the 3rd place Express. This will be the second time that the Jets have played in Owatonna boasting a 1-1 record thus far.
Playing the Game The Jets played 180:00 of good hockey and were rewarded with three wins and fight spot for the playoffs with 15 games remaining. Another big weekend awaits the Jets and the playoffs with reach!
Look Around the League
Alexandria vs. North Iowa L 5-1 and W 2-1 OT
Southern MN vs. Springfield L 7-2 and L 6-2
North American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2008
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Rolls to 8-2 Win Over NAHL South All Stars - U.S. National Team
- McCusker named Player of the Week - Alpena IceDiggers
- NAHL announces top prospects jersey auction - NAHL
- Phantoms Split Weekend With Stars - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Jets weekly - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Jets name players of the week - 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.
