Outlaws Heating Up
March 29, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Playoff Bound?? That's the question on everybody's mind. The North Iowa Outlaws have gained a point in their last seven straight and are cruising towards the post season. With last weekend's sweep, the Outlaws are closer then ever to locking up a playoff spot this weekend on the road in Fargo.
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Outlaws Heating Up
The expression "Sitting in the Drivers Seat" is something that the North Iowa Outlaws wouldn't have said about their team for most of the season. Spending the majority of the time in the cellar, the Outlaws clawed their way up the standings a few times, only to see teams jump right back ahead of them in the standings, but after the late season success things have changed in the Central Division. Since returning from the Christmas break, the Outlaws turned up the pressure going 13-12-4 in the second half of the season, jumping into the third playoff position with two games remaining. Even with the success, nothing is set in stone yet, with four teams buying for the final two spots, and all four with a mathematical chance of getting in. For the Outlaws the number was six points heading into their weekend series with the Alaska Avalanche and a pair of victories has put them in control of their own fate.
Friday night, the Outlaws opened a must win weekend with a 4-1 victory. Despite falling behind 1-0 in the first period on an Avalanche goal by Trevor Tobilas, North Iowa never quit and turned the momentum and game around in a single second. Erick Galt scored on the power play with one second remaining in the first period to tie the game at one as the Outlaws steamed into the locker room. In the second, the Avalanche fell apart and the Outlaws took the momentum from the last second goal to build on their lead. North Iowa scored three goals in a three minute span during the second period to take a 4-1 lead which they wouldn't relinquish. Steve Mcleod, Bryant Skarda, and Brandon Larson scored with Larson's coming on the penalty kill. It was the league leading 20th shorthanded goal by the Outlaws on the season. In goal, Jay Clark recorded the first of two wins on the weekend, stopping 26 of 27 shots he faced.
Saturday night's contest was a little closer, but the Outlaws didn't disappoint the 1,457 fans in attendance as "Super Mario" made an appearance with a big game. The North Iowa Ice Arena came alive early when Mario Mjelleli scored on the power play, 2:06 into the game, but the lively crowd was silenced shortly after by the Avalanche. Alaska came charging back with two goals to take a lead, but just like the night before, the Outlaws scored another late goal that changed the game. Again on the power play, every Outlaw touched the puck as it zipped from stick to stick and found its way from Mike Wallgren to Steve Mcleod in front for the goal to tie the game at two heading to the break.
In the second period, "Super Mario" struck again, knocking home his second of the game and fifth goal in the last seven games. Leading by a goal as they started the third, North Iowa added with their third power play goal of the game, this one coming from Joe Harcharik. A power play that had been in the single digits percentage wise all season long, struck for four goals on 13 attempts. Late in the game, the Avalanche scored to pull within one, but down the stretch the Outlaws defense stepped up to preserve the win.
Outlaws Sweep Alaska
The North Iowa Outlaws are rolling faster than a steam engine, with one thing in mind, PLAYOFFS. The Outlaws, firing on all cylinders, came out and finished out a sweep of the Alaska Avalanche with a 4-3 victory in front of 1,457 fans and a wild and crazy North Iowa Ice Arena. The Outlaws jumped on the scoreboard early on a Mario Mjelleli power play goal but fell behind after the Avalanche scored two unanswered goals. Steve Mcleod scored the Outlaws second power play tally of the night, tying the game at two to end the period.
In the second, Mjelleli scored his second of the game to give the Outlaws a lead after two. In the third, North Iowa's Joe Harcharik scored to give the Outlaws a cushion, but the Avalanche pulled within one, but they fell short and the Outlaws took the victory. With the win the Outlaws are in third place, and have a chance to clinch a playoff spot next weekend. If the Alexandria Blizzard lose and the Outlaws gain a point, they will clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Playoff Senerio
1. Win once and they are in. 2. Pick up a point against Fargo-Moorhead, either in an overtime or shootout loss. 3. Back into the playoffs with two losses and a Springfield Jr. Blues loss to Southern Minnesota. A loss mathematically eliminates the Jr. Blues and the Outlaws carry a tiebreaker over Bismarck and North Iowa and Alexandria would make the playoffs.
Central Division Standings
Fargo & So. Minnesota are clinched into the top two spots.
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North American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2007
- Phantoms play for league's best record - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Bobcats help out Abused Adult Resource Center - Bismarck Bobcats
- Outlaws Heating Up - North Iowa Outlaws
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