Minnesota Blizzard make playoffs
March 28, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alexandria Blizzard News Release
(Alexandria, MN) The 2004-05 Minnesota Blizzard ventures into new territory! Faced with a pair of "must-win" games this past weekend, the Blizzard showed great resolve, posting a pair of victories to advance to the NAHL Western Division playoffs, also referred to as the Borne Cup playoffs. The Blizzard will compete in the Borne Cup Playoff Tournament for the first time in franchise history, with their first post-season game scheduled for April Fool's Day (no fooling!).
Friday evening, March 25th, the Blizzard hosted the red-hot Bismarck Bobcats, who entered the game with an 8-1-4 mark over their previous 13 games, to move past the Blizzard into fourth place in the Western Division. A Bismarck win would have clinched fourth place, and with it, the final playoff spot for the Borne Cup Tournament. In essence, the post-season for the Blizzard began with this game. The Blizzard came out with a spirited effort, which seemed to have caught the Bobcats a bit off guard. Minnesota found the back of the net three times in the opening 15 minutes of the game, and maintained a lead the rest of the night, to spoil Bismarck's regular season finale. The early scoring came against Bismarck net-minder Kasey Moreland, who entered the game with a sterling 7-0-1 record, with a goals-against average under 2.00 and a save percentage near .940. Josh Frider (Moorhead, MN) was the first to light the lamp for the Blizzard. His 14th goal of the season came just 36 seconds into the contest, which ignited the Blizzard bench, as well as the large throng of Blizzard fans in the stands. Andrew Olson (Alexandria, MN) and Dan Swanson (Menomonie, WI) assisted on the goal, which gave Minnesota the early lead. Sam Windsor (Plymouth, MN) gave Minnesota a 2-0 advantage at 9:48 of the first period, with his 10th goal of the season, on assists from Tony Selvog (Warroad, MN) and Paul Henderson (Menomonie, WI). Later in the opening period, the Blizzard cashed in on their first power-play chance of the night, with Swanson netting his 20th goal of the year at 14:43, on assists from Windsor and Olson. The third score sent Moreland to the bench for the night. While Bobcats' relief net-minder, Matt Koenig, kept Minnesota off the board the rest of the night, Blizzard goalie Marcus Paulson (Eden Prairie, MN) stood tall, with one of his finest performances of the year. He turned away 39 shots, allowing only a power-play goal off the stick of Bismarck's Aaron Bendickson midway through the final period. Minnesota's 3-1 victory over the Bobcats made Saturday night's game meaningful, especially for the Blizzard. Bismarck closed its regular season at 25-22-9 for 59 points, leaving Alexandria not knowing what its playoff fate would be.
Entering the final night of regular season competition in the North American Hockey League, the Blizzard's playoff fortunes were pretty clear....a win, or a game that would go into overtime, would give Minnesota the necessary point(s) in the team standings, to clinch fourth place in the West, and guarantee a trip into the post-season. The Blizzard hosted Fargo-Moorhead, which had six days of rest, after clinching the Western Division Regular Season title the previous Sunday in Billings. Fargo-Moorhead used this game as more than simply a tune-up for a playoff run. The Jets gave the Blizzard all it could handle, twice taking one-goal leads in regulation play. Trailing by a goal entering the middle period, the Blizzard got a huge lift from defenseman Tim Manthey (Anoka, MN), who whistled a short-handed goal past Elliot Okland at 3:07, to tie the game, 1-1. Brian Baker (Brooklyn Park, MN) assisted on Manthey's score. The Jets would counter with a Brent Olson goal near the midpoint of the hockey game, putting the Blizzard into a one-goal hole, entering the final 20 minutes of regulation. Fargo-Moorhead took two penalties early in the third period, but Minnesota was unable to capitalize. However, the third power-play chance was the charm for the Blizzard. For the second straight night, Josh Frider came through with a big score for the Blizzard. His wrist shot with under seven minutes to go forged a 2-2 deadlock. Frider's goal was assisted by a pair of other Blizzard veterans, Karl Larsen (Princeton, MN) and Sean Fish (Ramsey, MN). The Blizzard had a couple of other quality chances to score before the end of regulation, but the team accomplished its mission, with a 2-2 tie heading into overtime. The Blizzard earned the one point, which sealed up fourth place in the West Division standings. At the start of the overtime, Minnesota and Bismarck actually had 59 points apiece, but the Blizzard had a better overall win percentage, compared to Bismarck, which vaulted Minnesota into the post-season. The Blizzard earned a second point in the team standings on this night, as Dan Swanson ended the game with his team-leading 21st goal of the year just 48 seconds into overtime, on assists from Manthey and Mark Horbacz (Hinckley, MN). Minnesota finished the regular season with a 28-24-4 record, good for 60 points and fourth place in the West.
Borne Cup Playoffs: The Blizzard will participate in its first-ever playoff game this coming Friday in Fargo, North Dakota. Being the number four seed for the Borne Cup Playoff Tournament, the Blizzard will match up with the Fargo-Moorhead Jets in the opening round, which is a best-of-five format. Fargo-Moorhead is the top seed, having won the West Division Regular Season Championship. The Jets will host the Blizzard in the first two games of the series. Games 1 and 2 will be at 7:00 PM Friday and Saturday, respectively, at the John Carlson Coliseum in Fargo. Radio coverage will be provided on the New Smooth Magic 107.1, KMGK-FM, in West-Central Minnesota both nights. The first home game in Blizzard playoff history is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6th at the Runestone Community Center in Alexandria. The Blizzard will host Game 3 of the series that night, and will also host Game 4, if necessary. If the series goes the distance, Game 5 would be played at the John Carlson Coliseum in Fargo.
During the regular season, Fargo-Moorhead posted an 8-3-1 record versus the Blizzard. Minnesota's record versus the Jets in the 2004-05 regular season was 4-7-1.
Congrats to Coaches Boitz and Crouse, and most notably, to the Blizzard Hockey team, on a wild and memorable ride through the regular season! The "second season" (the Borne Cup playoffs) is going to have an identity of its own, and it's an honor, for the Blizzard to be a part of it.
Thanks to all of the Blizzard Hockey fans, for your enthusiastic support in Alexandria this past weekend, and throughout the 2004-05 regular season. We hope to see you, and hear you, during the coming Borne Cup playoff games in Fargo and Alexandria! GO BLIZZARD!
North American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2005
- Game dates, times announced for Blizzard playoff series in Borne Cup Tourney - Alexandria Blizzard
- Minnesota Blizzard make playoffs - Alexandria Blizzard
- West Division Leader Jets Prepare for NAHL Playoffs - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Phantoms secure playoff spot in finale - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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.
