Two Large Crowds Watch Jets Get Swept
February 21, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) Humble pie is never sweet, always bitter, for the one eating it. For the Fargo-Moorhead Jets and their fans, they were served two heaping servings of the un-tasty treat this past weekend.
The Jets (30-12-1, 61pts) lost back-to-back home games (the first time all season) and saw their lead atop the North American Hockey League vanish. A 4-2 loss to Bismarck on Fri. Feb. 18, was followed by a 5-2 loss at the hands of Fairbanks on Sat. Feb. 19
This was s shocking turn of events for the Jets, and their fans, who had entered the weekend in a jovial mood. Fargo-Moorhead was riding a franchise record seven-game win streak and had a chance to become the first NAHL to clinch a playoff this weekend.
"We didn't play with the energy needed to be success" commented head coach Todd Knott. "Both teams we faced, played very aggressively and we didn't have enough of an effort to match it."
The two losses spoiled what was one of the best weekend crowds the Jets' have had in their two year history. A season-high 1,287 witnessed the Fri. loss to archrival Bismarck. Then a very good crowd of 957 was at the Sat. loss to Fairbanks.
With their two losses, and Billings' win on Saturday at Bozeman, the Jets now are in a tie for first place in the division. However, the Jets do have three games in hand.
Fargo-Moorhead kicks off a three-game road trip in Montana with a game at Billings on Feb. 23.
Even with the two losses, the Jets can still get the distinction of being the first NAHL team to clinch a berth in this year's playoffs. The Jets and Billings' have magic numbers of three. Meanwhile, Texas has a magic number of two.
The Jets' penalty kill unit, which had been showing drastic improvement during the win streak, struggled this weekend. Bismarck and Fairbanks combined to go 3/10 (30%) on the power play.
Tom Dickhudt (Woodbury, MN) was one of the few bright spots for the Jets statistically. He scored both of the Jets' goals in the loss to Fairbanks. The Jets were held to just four goals all weekend. Fargo-Moorhead leads the NAHL scoring over four goals per game.
Still the most disappointing aspect of the weekend was that defeats came at the John. E. Carlson Coliseum, a building where the Jets had played very well all season. The Jets have won 16 games in their home rink this season by an average of over three goals. However, after these two games the home record is now 16-5-0. Three of the home losses are courtesy of Bismarck.
Fri. Feb. 18 Jets 2 Bismarck Bobcats 4
Fargo (ND) Three special team goals proved to be the catalyst for a 4-2 Bismarck Bobcats victory over the Jets before a season-high crowd of 1,287 at the Carlson Coliseum on Friday night.
Casey Moreland made 30 saves in goal for Bismarck. Moreland -the older brother of the Jets' Matt Moreland -had been playing professional hockey for the ECHL's Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies earlier this year.
Casey Moreland is now 2-0-0 since being signed by Bismarck in January. He missed some time due to an injured left hand.
Phil Fox actually gave the Jets a 1-0 lead at 13:10 of the first period with a short-handed goal.
However, Jacques Lamoureux tied the game at 1-1 just 1:07 later with a power play goal for Bismarck.
The Bobcats then took the lead for good in the second period. Dustin Fulton scored 11:42 when he took a pass from Nick Bydal at the Jets' blueline and raced passed the defense all alone of FM goalie Andy Stricker (St. George, UT).
Brett Sobolik then scored the eventual game-winner with only 49 seconds left in the second period. It was a short-handed goal that seemed to deflate both the Jets and fan base. Stricker appeared as though he had made the save, but the puck rolled off his shoulder, down his back, and into the goal.
The teams then went through an exceptionally chippy third period. The style of play made it difficult for Fargo-Moorhead to mount a consistent comeback effort.
Nonetheless, the Jets would tally a power play with less than five minute remaining when Bob Preece (Bonita Springs, FL) blasted a slap shot from the slot.
However, Donnie Mitchell iced the game for Bismarck with an empty net goal in the final minute.
Sat. Feb. 19 Jets 2 Fairbanks Ice Dogs 5
Fargo (ND) Sean McWhorter's first goal of the season proved to be the game winner as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs beat the Fargo-Moorhead Jets 5-2 at the Carlson Coliseum on Saturday night.
McWhorter won a face-off outside the Jets' zone late in the second period and raced in on a breakaway on goalie Elliot Okland (Fargo, ND). McWhorter beat Okland over the glove side at 17:17 giving Fairbanks a 3-1 lead.
The Ice Dogs then held on in the third period to pick up the upset win on the road.
Fargo-Moorhead loses consecutive home games for the first time this season, and has lost back-to-back games for just the second time.
Meanwhile, Fairbanks helped to solidly their playoff fortunes in the North Division. After a shaky start to their latest road trip, Fairbanks has picked up five points in their last three games (2-0-1).
The loss spoiled a solid effort from Jets' assistant captain Tom Dickhudt (Woodbury, MN), who scored both of the team's goals. Dickhudt now has 18 goals on the season.
Fargo-Moorhead finishes the season series with Fairbanks 3-2-0.
Last Week's Results
2/18 Bismarck 2-4 Loss
2/19 Fairbanks 2-5 Loss
This Week's Games
2/23 @ Billings 8:05pm (CST)
2/25 @ Bozeman 8:05pm (CST)
2/26 @ Bozeman 8:05pm (CST)
The FM Jets are in their second season as members of the North American Hockey League.
The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 29th year of operation. For more information, visit fmjets.com or call (701) 235-2354.
Jets home games are played at the John E. Carlson Coliseum in Fargo, ND. All games are broadcasted on sportsjuice.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2005
- Wildcats Fall in Overtime - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Two Large Crowds Watch Jets Get Swept - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Minnesota Blizzard weekly summary - Alexandria Blizzard
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