West Division Leader Jets Prepare for NAHL Playoffs
Published on March 28, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Fargo-Moorhead Jets News Release
Fargo (ND) After winning the first Junior A regular season division title for a team in the area since the 1970s, the Fargo-Moorhead Jets now set their sights on grander accolades. The Jets â the winners of the North American Hockey League's West Division regular season crown â begin the 2005 playoffs this weekend against the Minnesota Blizzard in the Best-of-Five division semi-final round.
The Jets (36-17-3) enter the postseason as the top seed in the West Division playoffs, while Minnesota (28-24-4) used a late season run to hold on to the fourth and final playoff spot. Minnesota defeated Bismarck on Mar. 25, and then ended the regular season with a 3-2 overtime win over the Jets on Mar. 26 in Alexandria to get into the postseason.
The first round series will begin at the John E. Carlson Coliseum on April 1 and 2. Then the series will shift to Alexandria for Game Three on April 6 and -if needed- Game Four on April 8. If the series requires a Fifth game, it will return to the Carlson Coliseum on April 9. All games in the series will start at 7:00pm.
Going into last weekend, it had appeared as though the Jets were going to face Bismarck in the playoffs, in what would've been a rematch of last season's first round series won by the Bobcats. Bismarck held a three-point lead over Minnesota for the final playoff spot, however the Blizzard were able to get four points to jump over the Bobcats.
The Jets went into the final weekend of the regular season having already clinched the NAHL West title with a 5-3 win at Billings on Mar. 20, and simply had to wait for their opponent to be determined. It just so happens, the Jets were able to see their opponent determined right in front of them, during their regular season finale last Saturday in Alexandria.
By virtue of simply forcing overtime, and getting that point, the Blizzard clinched the final playoff spot. When time expired in regulation, the Minnesota bench erupted in jubilation, and then became ecstatic when the evening was capped with an overtime goal just 48 seconds into the extra session.
Jets vs. Minnesota in the Playoffs
Now the Jets and Blizzard âboth in their second years of existence- get set for a first round series against each other. Fargo-Moorhead won the season series going 8-3-1, while Minnesota went 3-8-1 however it was a series where home-ice played a very key role. While the Jets went just 2-3-1 at Alexandria's Runestone Community Center, they were a dominant 6-0-0 at the Carlson Coliseum, outscoring Minnesota 32-11 in games played at home.
Games in Alexandria were a much different story. While games in Fargo were typically a Jets blowout, Minnesota was able to win tight games on their home ice. Each of the Jets four losses in Alexandria (including one in overtime) were by a single goal.
First Win Since 1997
Regardless of the opposition, the Jets are looking to wash away the memory of last season's quick playoff exit. The Jets were swept in the first round by their rivals the Bismarck Bobcats, so this season Fargo-Moorhead will be looking to earn the franchise's first wins in the postseason.
Playoff success and Junior A hockey teams have not mixed well in the area in the last decade. Area hockey fans haven't been able to celebrate a Junior A hockey team winning a playoff game since the FM Ice Sharks defeated the Green Bay Gamblers 4-2 on March 26, 1997 before 1,237 at the Carlson Coliseum in Game five of the United States Hockey League's first round.
The Ice Sharks lost the next game to be ousted from the series, and were swept in four straight the following season by Omaha. So in essence, Junior A hockey teams have lost eight straight games in the postseason.
Winner Advances to Borne Cup Finals
The winner of this series will face the Billings/Helena series winner in the Best-of-Seven Borne Cup Finals. The winner of the Borne Cup advances to the National Tournament April 26-30 in Bismarck.
Saturday March 26 Jets 2 Minnesota Blizzard 3 OT Regular Season Finale
Alexandria (MN) The Minnesota Blizzard needed at least a point during Saturday's North American Hockey League regular season finale in order to qualify for the playoffs.
They would get two.
Dan Swanson's breakaway goal 48 seconds into overtime gave the Blizzard a 3-2 win over the Fargo-Moorhead Jets before an announce crowd of 1,159 at the Runestone Community Center. The win gives Minnesota 60 points, and pushed them passed the idle Bismarck Bobcats for the last playoff spot in the West Division.
While Swanson's goal was dramatic, the Blizzard had already clinched a playoff spot by forcing overtime. By virtue of the tiebreaker, Minnesota would have gone to the playoffs even without Swanson's goal. Nevertheless, it was an exclamation point on a night that saw two Blizzard comebacks.
Moorhead, MN native Josh Frider gets the credit for the playoff clinching goal for the Blizzard. With the Jets holding on to a 2-1 lead late in the third period, Minnesota was given a power play.
The Blizzard had failed to capitalize on two previous man advantages in the final period, but would bury this chance. Frider scored with just 6:55 remaining in regulation.
Neither team was able to develop a solid scoring chance the rest of the way, but that suited Minnesota just fine, for the one point was all they needed.
For the Jets, the loss means the team will fail in its attempt to tie the record for most wins in a single season by a Fargo-Moorhead Junior A team. The record is 37, set in 1976 by the Sugar Kings of the Midwest Junior Hockey League. The Jets end the regular season with a record of 36-17-3, but do win the West Division's regular season title.
Matt Grasseschi (Great Falls, MT) gave the Jets a 1-0 with 1:35 left in the first period on his ninth goal of the season. Kyle Graalum (Fargo, ND) and Kai Kantola (Raleigh, NC) assisted.
However, Tim Manthey tied the score for Minnesota with a shorthanded goal three minutes into the second period.
The Jets retook the lead at 8:52 of the second period thanks to some great hand-eye coordination from Brent Olson (Baudette, MN). Robert Carr's initial shot from the slot was stopped by Minnesota goaltender Marcus Paulson, but the rebound went straight into the air. Olson was camped at the top of the crease and when the puck was level with his knee, he took a baseball swing and knocked the puck into the net.
After a short discussion, the goal counted and the Jets had a 2-1 lead on Olson's fifth goal in the month of March.
Nonetheless, the Jets were unable to hold off a furious Blizzard rally in the final period. Minnesota outshot the Jets 12-6 in the final period.
Jets goaltender Elliot Okland (Fargo, ND) played well in goal, especially in the third period, robbing numerous Blizzard chances early, before Frider tied the game late.
Last Week's Results
3/26 @ Minnesota 2-3 OTL
This Week's Games
4/1 Minnesota 7:05pm (Game 1 of Borne Cup Semis)
4/2 Minnesota 7:05pm (Game 2 of Borne Cup Semis)
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 STAR 103.9 and sportsjuice.com.
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
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