Jets weekly
February 25, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Thursday Night It was just another day at the office for the boys as they turned on the burners for the third period and leave Alexandria with a 5-2.
In game where they knew they could overtake the Blizzard in the standings for fourth place, it took a 2-1 deficit to realize it. Adam Buegler was tested early in net for the Jets as he gathered a save in the chest and falling down making another huge save without his stick all while keeping the game scoreless. The Jets scored first on shot from the top of the left circle by Tyler Swanson. It was quite a relief to get through a period with only one penalty considering what happened last weekend. The Blizzard finished with a shot advantage of 10-7.
A quick start to the second by the Blizzard gave them a 2-1 lead on goals by Noah Nemgar and Jens Nilsson. Nilsson's goal came on a delayed penalty call against the Jets with the extra attacker. Though they would never score again it seemed to maybe be a Blizzard-like attack. But Marc Harrie would end that by chasing the puck in on goaltender Dylan Woodring as he miss played it to his right and a throw back caught the inside of the post for 2-2 tie. This would be the start of a complete turnaround for the Jets. The second closed with the game tied at 2-2 and shots in favor of the Blizzard 22-24.
The third period opened with Mark Johnson and company using the man advantage and soft shot from the left circle again making 3-2, Jets. Woodring would continue to be shaky playing the puck and Joe Beaudette made a nice play to set up Andrew Harrison who walked right around Woodring for the 4-2 lead. Woodring would grab his jockstrap that fell out on the Harrison goal and head off the ice for the night. Ryan Leets would come in for the remaining 15:07 of the third. Beaudette added a late power-play goal to bury the Blizzard on their ice, 5-2.
Johnson finished with a the game-winning goal and an assist, Harrison added a goal and a dime and Beausette continued his scoring ways with a goal and two assists. Meanwhile Adam Buegler made 33 saves in his fourth win of year and in a row.
Friday Night It was another three goal 1st period this month on the road that costs the Jets a step forward at Southern MN, 4-3.
Adam Buegler from New Ulm, MN was playing in his backyard when the Express welcomed him to the NAHL. Buegler struggled to maintain his dominance after giving up an early power-play goal to Robby Spalding making it 1-0. The Jets had every opportunity to get even and take the lead but couldn't. It would be a defensive special team's goal as the 4-on-4 ended and the Jets were on the man advantage only to see it all go wrong. Ben Danford found the puck lying in the neutral zone and went into to Buegeler without actually taking a shot as it slid between his legs. The period would end with another goal with 2:07 remaining from the top of the left circle by Kyle Olson making 3-0.
The second started with Elliot Okland replacing Buegler who stopped only five of eight shots. Okland would be tested early in his return to the crease since February 7th at Bismarck. Elliot kept the game within striking distance for his team as Mike Schumacher got the Jets on the board at 3-1. That would be the beginning of a hard fought comeback by the Jets. After Spalding netted another goal to make it 4-1, the Express would score no more. It would be Jordy Trottier taking a perfect feed from Andrew Harrison to once again pull within two goals at 4-2. Trottier would catch the post in the period as well but it would end at 4-2, Express.
The third period had definitely been set up for the Jets to get closer with two separate 5-on-3 power-plays but hardly any shots were penetrated on tender Scott Pederson. The Express would find two posts of their own but were held off the board. A costly turnover in their own zone by the Express, led to a Robby Philipp steal and bury to make things interesting at 4-3 with over 13:00 minutes to play. Time after time it seemed as if Southern MN had the Jets' number from the opening face-off by Brian Arrigoni. With Okland heading to the bench late to give the extra-attacker with under a minute to play, they couldn't get the tying goal and fell 4-3.
Special teams were the difference as a short-handed goal loomed from the first period late in game and might have been the early nail. Harrison finished with two assists and Okland made 19 of 20 saves in the two periods of relief. The Jets were 2 for 13 on the PP while the Express got 2 of 6 on their man advantages. Alexandria lost 5-2 at Bismarck and Springfield fell 3-1 at home versus North Iowa to keep the Jets in fourth place of the Central.
Saturday Night 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.
Powering Down In the three games over the weekend the Jets were 4 for 27 on the power-play while giving up a short-handed goal to the Express on Friday night. Though there were four PP goals scored it were the crucial 5-on-3 advantages that were whiffed on by the Jets at Southern MN.
Still in the Hunt The Jets needed at least one victory over the Express to hold on to the fourth and final slot in the Central but couldn't muster a thing. Alexandria won to pull back within one point of the Jets as the Bobcats collected three points in their weekend series with Alexandria. This leaves the division very tight and tough with Bismarck having 39 points, Jets with 40 and Blizzard at 41 all in that order from last to fourth place in the Central.
Bring on the 'Cats It's the final regular season series for the most heated rivalry of year with the Bismarck Bobcats on the 29th and 1st. Will you make the trip down I-94 to catch a potential playoff elimination and turnaround? March has a chance to come in like a Jet or Bobcat, be there or be square!
Look Around the League
Alexandria vs. Bismarck L 5-2 and W 6-5 SO
North Iowa vs. Springfield W 3-1 and L 7-0
North American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2008
- NAHL Weekly - NAHL
- Former Bobcat Goalie Leads Fighting Sioux in Shut-Out Over Beavers - Bismarck Bobcats
- Wildcats Sweep Brown Bears In Weekend Series - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Jets weekly - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Bobcats and Blizzard Split Weekend - Bismarck Bobcats
- Jets name players of the week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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