Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary
April 4, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Alexandria Blizzard News Release
(Alexandria, MN) It was a trip into uncharted territory over the weekend for the Minnesota Blizzard. Never before, had the Blizzard played in a post-season contest. After a stirring close to the regular season, the Blizzard met West Division Regular Season Champion, Fargo-Moorhead, in the Semifinals, of the Borne Cup Playoffs. The opening round is a best-of-five format.
Minnesota faced the daunting task of winning in a building where the team has struggled throughout the year, the John Carlson Coliseum in Fargo. The Fargo-Moorhead Jets went 23-5 at the Coliseum during the regular season, going undefeated against three NAHL Western Division teams there....Minnesota, Helena, and Bozeman. Friday's opener of the Borne Cup Semifinals was unlike most of the Blizzard-Jets games at Fargo this season. The playoff featured a more defensive style, with limited end-to-end action. It is a style the Blizzard looked to play, to try to short-circuit the potent Fargo-Moorhead attack. In some ways, the strategy worked, as the Jets took a number of penalties that may have come out of frustration. However, the Blizzard could not capitalize on any of their power-play chances, or other scoring opportunities. Fargo-Moorhead used a 22-save performance from goalie Andy Stricker, plus single goals in each period, to blank Minnesota, 3-0. Goalie Marcus Paulson (Eden Prairie, MN) made 40 saves in the contest.
The two teams met the next night at John Carlson Coliseum, for Game 2 of the series. Like the night before, Fargo-Moorhead grabbed an early lead, on a goal defected in by Tom Dickhudt. The Blizzard would tie the game up midway through the second period, while on the power play. Forward Andrew Olson (Alexandria, MN) retrieved the puck behind the Jets' net, and wrapped his shot into the goal, to create the 1-1 deadlock. Olson's score seemed to inspire the team, while deflating the Jets just a bit. The Blizzard would out-shoot Fargo-Moorhead, 13-10 in the second period, but was unable to grab the lead. The Jets ratcheted up their intensity over the last half of the final period. Late in regulation, with the score tied at one, the Jets worked the puck into the Minnesota end. The puck would be passed in front of the net. With players from both sides crowding in front, Phil Fox eventually tapped a shot toward Marcus Paulson. The puck rolled behind Paulson, and crossed goal line, by mere inches. Unfortunately for the Blizzard, the puck had advanced too far, and created the game-winning score for Fargo-Moorhead, in the final minute of regulation. The Jets took a commanding 2-0 series lead, by edging the Blizzard, 2-1.
How resilient is the Blizzard Hockey team? Another test comes Wednesday night. The Blizzard will host Fargo-Moorhead, in a 7:30 game at the Runestone Community Center in Alexandria. Game 3 of the Borne Cup Semifinals will be a "must-win" game for the Blizzard, while it is Fargo-Moorhead's first chance at closing out a series. If the Blizzard should win Game 3 of the series, the team will host Fargo-Moorhead the following night (Thursday, April 7th), also at 7:30 at the Runestone Center. Should the Blizzard succeed, in two "must-win" situations, and force a deciding Game 5 in the Borne Cup Semifinals, the final game of the set would be in Fargo Saturday, April 9th, with a 7:00 PM start at the John Carlson Coliseum. The winner of this series will advance to the Championship round of the NAHL Western Division Borne Cup Playoffs, to face Billings. The Bulls dispatched the Helena Bighorns in three straight games, with two of Billings' wins coming in sudden-death overtime.
Get a taste of playoff hockey this week, in Alexandria! See you at the rink Wednesday night, for Game 3 of the Borne Cup Semifinals, between the Blizzard and the Jets. GO BLIZZARD!
North American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2005
- Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary - Alexandria Blizzard
- Wildcats Begin Playoff Series With Tornado - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jets on Verge of Advancing in Playoffs - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
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