LAST WEEK…
Friday, March 17: Janesville Jets 1, Minnesota Magicians 2
Shots: Jets 30, Magicians 23
PP: Jets 0-4, Magicians 0-2
The Janesville Jets (38-10-0-3) fell behind just six minutes into their St. Patrick’s Day contest in Richfield, and battled from behind for the rest of the night, falling 2-1 to the Minnesota Magicians (28-20-3-2).
Magicians forward Andrew Kangas (6:11 1st) struck early with his sixth goal of the season in an otherwise uneventful first period.
In the second, the Jets whiffed on two more power play opportunities to tie the game. Shortly after their third opportunity expired, Minnesota’s Nikita Kozyrev (13:05 2nd) doubled the Magicians’ lead. Despite four full minutes of man advantage time, the Jets managed just six shots on net in the middle frame.
The Jets finally beat Minnesota goaltender Ivan Prosvetov late in the third when Carter Ekberg (13:19 3rd) picked up his fourth goal of the season, but couldn’t rally to tie it late.
In a great goaltender battle, Ivan Prosvetov (19-13-0-2) bested Barczewski, stopping 29 of 30 in the winning effort. Jake Barczewski (25-3-0-1) received his first loss since November 26th despite a decent 21/23 night.
Saturday, March 18: Janesville Jets 1, Minnesota Magicians 2 (SO)
Shots: Jets 54, Magicians 30
PP: Jets 0-2, Magicians 0-0
The Janesville Jets (38-10-0-4) hung on for a point, but for the second straight night could not beat a red-hot goaltender more than once, and lost in the shootout to the Minnesota Magicians (29-20-3-2), marking the first sweep of the Jets’ since October 6th and 7th, also in Richfield.
The Jets were buzzing early in the game, creating chances off the rush and off of sustained possession, but Minnesota’s Ivan Prosvetov stopped all 19 shots his way in the first period. Following Friday’s goaltender duel, it was apparent early that Saturday would host another.
In the second period, Michael Maloney (5:34 2nd) ended both a personal five-game goalless streak and Prosvetov’s shutout efforts when his shot rode off Prosvetov’s blocker and into the top corner. Maloney’s 22nd of the season was answered quickly, as the Jets led for less than four minutes before Tanner Tweten (9:27 2nd) knotted things at 1-1.
Both teams played nearly 51 minutes before the game’s first penalty, when the Jets earned a power play opportunity and a chance to take a late lead. Behind his penalty kill unit, Prosvetov stood tall. Another Minnesota penalty would send the game into overtime with the Jets on the 4-on-3 man advantage.
In overtime, Janesville’s power play again was stifled, and the teams went to the shootout.
Tweten scored the shootout’s first goal, and was matched by Keegan Miller in the third frame. Minnesota’s Travis Brown struck twine in response and capped the sweep.
With Jake Barczewski breaking his steel in warmups, recent Harvard commit Derek Schaedig (13-7-0-4) played well in his first game back from an illness, stopping 28 of 29 shots, but was tagged for the shootout loss. Ivan Prosvetov (20-13-0-2) was phenomenal in the win, making 53 saves and holding the Jets to just one goal on three tries in the shootout.
Midwest Division Recap
Division action started Thursday when the Magicians laid an egg in La Crosse to the Coulee Region Chill, losing 7-1. With their two wins over the Jets, the Magicians picked up a big four points to stay ahead of the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, who stomped the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, 7-0 and 6-0 at home. After Thursday’s win over Minnesota, the Chill continued to defend their home ice, sweeping the Springfield Jr. Blues, 4-3 in each contest, to stay in the fourth and final playoff spot. The Jr. Blues picked up a point Saturday, losing in overtime, and trail Coulee by four points. The Kenai River Brown Bears were on the wrong end of a pair of home contests versus the Topeka RoadRunners, 5-3 and 4-1.
Midwest Division Standings:
| Place | Team | Record | Pts |
| 1 | y – Janesville Jets | 38-10-0-4 | 80 |
| 2 | MN Magicians | 29-20-3-2 | 63 |
| 3 | Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 28-24-2-1 | 59 |
| 4 | Coulee Region Chill | 26-23-2-0 | 54 |
| 5 | Springfield Jr. Blues | 23-26-3-1 | 50 |
| 6 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 11-42-2-0 | 24 |
THIS WEEK…
Thursday, March 23, 2017 vs. Coulee Region Chill – 7:00 p.m. CST
The Jets return home for a rare weeknight game on Thursday, when they’ll host their in-state rivals in another Battle of Wisconsin for the Blain’s Dairyland Milk Can Trophy. The Chill are coming off a three-win weekend and have strung six straight victories together, the second-best active streak in the league. Coulee Region’s attack has been re-energized by a pair of USHL adds in Justin Kendall and Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup. Dating back to February 11, the Chill have lit the lamp 57 times in 11 contests. Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on HockeyTV (www.hockeytv.com) with Jets home play-by-play voice Mike Hammett.
PROMOTIONS & EVENTS…
Thursday is the Jets’ Reading Club Night, presented by BMO Harris Bank. Students from participating area elementary schools who completed their reading log will be admitted free of charge. Thursday is also Marshall Middle School Night, and will feature live performances from the Cardinal pep band.
IN THE COMMUNITY…
All week long, in preparation for the school’s night at the rink, Jets players will visit Marshall Middle School, culminating in an appearance at a pep rally on Thursday.
Also this week, Blake Wareham, Adam Roeder, Carter Ekberg, and Michael Maloney will finish their Junior Achievement curriculum in two first grade classrooms at Van Buren Elementary School. Junior Achievement is an organization which helps children to value free enterprise through educational programs.
JETS BITS…
Ivan Prosvetov’s 82-save weekend translated into a combined .976 save percentage over the sweep, by far the best goaltending the Jets have run into in a series this season…Goaltender Derek Schaedig announced his Division I commitment on Sunday to Harvard (ECAC)…Saturday’s shootout loss gave the Jets 80 points, officially marking their second-best season in history…Janesville needs just 14 goals over the final eight games to produce its highest-scoring season in franchise history…Thursday is expected to be Cole Paskus’ 100th game in the NAHL (all with Janesville)