Weekend Preview: Ice Miners Look to Bouce Back in Soo
Published on March 11, 2015 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Keystone Ice Miners News Release
CONNELLSVILLE, PA - It has been almost a month since the Ice Miners played a home game and they can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. With only seven games remaining in the regular season, they'll finish up their nine game road trip this weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. After a successful trip to Alaska where they won 3 of 4, things went south in Flint last weekend as Keystone failed to pick up a point in three straight losses to the last place Michigan Warriors. Despite the struggles, two wins or one win and one Michigan loss will clinch them a North Division playoff spot.
The Ice Miners and Eagles will play a potential and even likely playoff preview at Pullar Stadium this weekend. Currently, only one point separates Keystone and Soo in the standings, with the Eagles holding a one point edge for 2nd place in the North Division. Each team has seven games remaining, plus the conclusion of the February 7th postponed game that will be completed this coming Friday prior to the regular scheduled faceoff. While Johnstown is in reach of the 3rd place spot, it appears likely that the Ice Miners and Eagles will be playing against each other in the first round of the North Division playoffs, with the only question being which team will earn home ice advantage.
Soo has points in 8 of its last 9 games including halting Janesville's 17 game winning streak last Saturday with a 4-3 shootout triumph. The Eagles have been sparked by goaltender Chad Catt who is 6-1-1 with a 2.21 GAA and a .923 SV% since being acquired from Aberdeen on February 7th.
In the season head to head, the Ice Miners have a 3-1-1 record against Soo with the postponed game hanging in the balance. After sweeping the Eagles at Pullar Stadium by 6-3 and 3-1 scores on September 26th and 27th, Keystone was swept on home ice on November 15th and 16th. The loss on the 16th came via a shootout. Nick Kossoff posted a 36 save shutout on February 6th in the last meeting. Should both teams finish the season with the same amount of points, the first tiebreaker is wins, and the second is head-to-head record.
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