Jets Report: 4-5

Apr 5, 2017

LAST WEEK…

Tuesday, March 28: Janesville Jets 4, Springfield Jr. Blues 1
Shots: Jets 31, Jr. Blues 37
PP: Jets 0-3, Jr. Blues 1-5

The Janesville Jets (39-11-0-4) jumped out early and never looked back as they opened a long week with a 4-1 win over the Springfield Jr. Blues (25-27-3-1) Tuesday night.

After killing a couple of penalties and gaining some confidence, the Jets closed out the first period with three goals in a little more than five minutes. Michael Maloney (14:45 1st) opened the scoring, digging out a rebound on the doorstep and tapping in his 23rd. Alec Semandel (17:09 1st) doubled the lead when he blasted a feed from Colin Felix. With eight seconds left in the period, Cole Paskus (19:52 1st) came hard on a forecheck, stole the puck, and ended Jordan Greenfield-Flemon’s night.

In the second, the Jets picked up another goal, again from the stick of Michael Maloney (8:23 2nd) to open up a 4-0 lead.

With Jakov Novak and Lordanthony Grissom in the box to start the third, Springfield finally broke their goose egg on a 5-on-3 goal from Fabio Hollenstein (0:18 3rd).

Jake Barczewski (26-4-0-0) made several ten-bell saves and was perfect until surrendering the 5-on-3 goal, ultimately winning in a 36/37 effort. Jordan Greenfield-Flemon (4-5-1-0) was tagged with the loss, saving 9 of 12 in the first period, and Mike Robinson (10-9-2-0) allowed just one goal, making 18 saves on 19 shots, and played 40 minutes in a no decision.

Thursday, March 30: Janesville Jets 5, Coulee Region Chill 3
Shots: Jets 37, Chill 33
PP: Jets 3-9, Chill 2-8

The Janesville Jets (40-11-0-4) never trailed in another tight contest with their in-state rivals, the Coulee Region Chill (28-25-2-0), skating to a 5-3 victory to open a three-game weekend.

For the second time in three nights, the Jets opened the scoring and followed up quickly to build a multiple-goal lead. Peter Bates (2:43 1st) started the offense with his 21st, cutting to the front of the net and burying a loose puck. Less than a minute later, Jakov Novak (3:24 1st) poked a puck off of Matt Doran’s stick and finished off a great individual effort to extend the lead to 2-0. Later, with his Chill on the power play, it was Justin Kendall shoveling a fluttering backhand to get his team on the board. Late in the period, also on the power play, Joseph Abate (17:23 1st) sniped one glove side, but it was Andy McGlynn (19:17 1st) who answered with an upstairs goal of his own to bring his team back to within one.

In the second, Kip Hoffmann (11:49 2nd) tipped in a feed from Abate on the power play to regain the two-goal lead. After calling six minors in the period, the officials ended the second assessing a spearing double minor and an ejection to Colin Felix. The horn blew as Coulee Region’s Joey Sofo skated into the zone, but after Sofo continued to put the puck on goaltender Derek Schaedig, Felix took exception and grabbed Sofo.

With just five defensemen for the final twenty, and a few penalties to kill, the Jets’ bench shortened. Coulee Region leading scorer Caleb Schroer (3:23 3rd) converted a cross-crease pass for another power play goal on the night. From there, the Jets held on, and added a late empty netter from Kip Hoffmann (19:54 3rd) to seal the deal.

Harvard commit Derek Schaedig (14-7-0-4) hung in for a win, making 30 saves on 33 shots, opposite Joe Marcoullier (13-5-1-0), who stopped 32 of Janesville’s 36 pucks.

Friday, March 31: Janesville Jets 3, Minnesota Wilderness 4
Shots: Jets 42, Wilderness 52
PP: Jets 1-3, Wilderness 2-5

The Janesville Jets (40-12-0-4) had a 3rd period game-tying goal disallowed for the second time in eight days on Friday, and dropped a close one to the Central Division’s Minnesota Wilderness (31-20-4-2) for the first loss of the week.

As the shots piled up in the first, both goaltenders, Janesville’s Jake Barczewski and Minnesota’s Luke Kania, appeared tough to beat. Late in the period, shortly after a power play opportunity expired, Minnesota hemmed the Jets in their zone and worked the puck around to a wide open Jesse Farabee (17:03 1st), who double-clutched and fired a shot upstairs.

The Jets got one back in the second when Kip Hoffmann (5:51 2nd) picked up his third goal in two nights, tapping in a rebound and setting the table for a thrilling third period.

After Alexander Esbjors (6:27 3rd) regained the lead for Minnesota, Jesse Farabee (10:57 3rd) picked up his second, tipping in a point shot for a power play goal that seemed to put the game out of reach for Janesville. Just a minute later, the Jets’ 2nd-ranked power play earned an opportunity to cut into the lead, and Frankie Sullivan (12:15 3rd) capitalized with a seeing-eye shot around the net front traffic. On the ensuing faceoff, Cullen Munson gained the attacking zone, fired a shot on Kania, and Peter Bates jammed home the rebound for what seemed to be a momentum-swinging, game-tying goal. The officials conferred, and concluded that Cole Paskus interfered with Kania outside of the crease, disallowing the goal. Just after the call, Munson was assessed a goaltender interference penalty, and the Wilderness again capitalized on the following power play with a goal from Tristan Rostagno (13:22 3rd). Peter Bates (19:25 3rd) eventually did get his goal, but it was too little too late for Janesville.

Jake Barczewski (26-5-0-0) was excellent despite the loss, making 48 saves on 52 shots. Luke Kania (17-13-2-1), the Brown recruit, earned the win on a 39/42 night.

Saturday, April 1: Janesville Jets 2, Minnesota Wilderness 1
Shots: Jets 40, Wilderness 41
PP: Jets 0-2, Wilderness 0-5

The Janesville Jets (41-12-0-4) started the month of April with a win in their rubber match against the Minnesota Wilderness (31-21-4-2) on Saturday, the Jets’ fourth and final road game of a busy week.

Opening the scoring early was Peter Bates (0:55 1st), extending his goal streak to three games as he tipped in a point shot from Lordanthony Grissom.

Late in the second period, after a couple of point shots from Carter Ekberg, Michael Maloney (17:09 2nd) picked up his 25th of the season, scooping a puck in the high slot and rifling home a wrister.

The Wilderness got one back in the third period on an early goal from Michael Zuffante (1:26 3rd), but Barczewski and the Jets stood tall to preserve the win.

Jake Barczewski (27-5-0-0) was again excellent, capping a three-start week with another win and 40 saves on 41 shots. Trevor Micucci (14-7-2-1) was beaten only twice and had a good night despite the loss, stopping 38 of Janesville’s 40 shots.

Midwest Division Recap

We now know who will play in the Midwest Division playoffs, but the seedings will come down to the final upcoming weekend. Last week, the Coulee Region Chill clinched the final playoff spot in their Friday 8-3 win over the Springfield Jr. Blues. The Chill beat Springfield in overtime Saturday to keep their hopes of a 3rd seed alive. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs capped their remarkable second-half turnaround with a three-game sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears, and put themselves ahead of the Minnesota Magicians by two points. The Magicians needed a shootout to beat the Central Division’s Aberdeen Wings on Friday, and lost in overtime on Saturday.

Midwest Division Standings:

Place Team GP Record Pts
1 y – Janesville Jets                     57 41-12-0-4 86
2 x – Fairbanks Ice Dogs 60 33-24-2-1 69
3 x – MN Magicians 58 30-21-4-3 67
4 x – Coulee Region Chill 57 30-25-2-0 62
5 Springfield Jr. Blues 58 25-28-4-1 55
6 Kenai River Brown Bears 60 12-46-2-0 26

Playoff Opponent Scenarios

The Jets will host games 1 & 2 of the Midwest Division Semi-Finals next weekend, April 14th and 15th, though their opponent still remains undetermined.

If Coulee Region wins Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, AND if Janesville sweeps Minnesota, the Jets will play Minnesota.

If Janesville beats Coulee Region on Thursday, the Jets will play Coulee Region.

If Janesville beats Coulee Region on Thursday, BUT Springfield beats Coulee Region once this weekend OR Minnesota beats Janesville once this weekend, the Jets will play Coulee Region.


THIS WEEK…

Thursday, April 6, 2017 @ Coulee Region Chill – 7:00 p.m. CST

Friday, April 7, 2017 vs. Minnesota Magicians – 7:00 p.m. CST

Saturday, April 8, 2017 vs. Minnesota Magicians – 7:00 p.m. CST

The Jets have another back-to-back-to-back this weekend as they close their regular season schedule against each of their two potential first round playoff opponents. Thursday night, the Jets travel to Coulee Region for another Battle of Wisconsin matchup before hosting the Magicians on Friday and Saturday. All three games will be broadcast live on www.HockeyTV.com with Mason Lyttle and Kevin Meegan on Thursday’s broadcast and Mike Hammett calling the home games. Tickets are still available for this weekend and can be purchased online here.

PROMOTIONS & EVENTS…

Wednesday night is the Jets’ annual Player Awards Banquet, held again at the historic Armory.

JETS BITS…

The Jets earned their 40th win of the season on Thursday, marking the second time in three seasons they’ve accomplished that feat…Michael Maloney’s goal Saturday was the 215th of the season for Janesville, tying a franchise-high for offense…Maloney needs six points this weekend to tie Zach Lavalle’s record of 61 points in a season…Cullen Munson moved past Adam Winborg for 1st in all-time games played (172)…Jake Barczewski (2-1, 124/130) earned the Bauer Midwest Division Star of the Week, and Kip Hoffmann (4GP, 3-1–4) earned an Honorable Mention.