Tuesday, the Jets battled back to preserve a win in Springfield after surrendering a 2-0 lead in the second period. Kip Hoffmann (11:48 1st) and Michael Maloney (13:30 1st) built the early lead, but Jr. Blues forward Matt Long struck twice to even the tilt. Late in the second, Alec Semandel (14:18 2nd) scored on a deflected shot for the eventual game winner. Cullen Munson (4:11 3rd) and Jack Gates 13:00 3rd) added insurance markers. Jake Barczewski (W, 26/28) made several athletic saves to earn his 20th win of the season.
Tuesday’s win extends the Jets’ division lead to 17 points over the Minnesota Magicians. Janesville now turns their focus to their in-state rivals, the Coulee Region Chill, for a home-and-home series this weekend as the teams battle for the Blain’s Dairyland Milk Can Trophy.
COULEE REGION CHILL
OVERVIEW:
Record: 18-21-2-0
Home Record: 18-21-2-0
Last Game: A 5-1 victory versus Austin last Saturday
Goals For/Goals Against: 133 GF/158 GA
Power Play: 17.4% (17th in the NAHL)
Penalty Kill: 81.4% (11th in the NAHL)
Leading Scorers: Kevin Dineen (39GP – 12G – 26A – 38PTS), Caleb Schroer (40GP – 14G – 22A – 36PTS), Joey Sofo (39GP – 20G – 12A – 32PTS)
WHO’S UP FRONT:
Kevin Dineen: The Chill leading scorer has cooled of late, with just one assist in his last three games, but has scored in each of his last three versus Janesville. The former Jet also leads Coulee Region in power play points with three goals and nine assists.
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup: The Maine recruit was acquired late last month in a trade with USHL Dubuque. As physical forward with scoring abilities, the Dane opened Saturday’s scoring with a power play goal for his first with the Chill.
WHO’S ON D:
Steven Quagliata: The Chill’s top-scoring defenseman has played a strong two-way game this season, leading to 23 points in 40 games. Quagliata will log a lot of minutes again this weekend against the Jets’ top lines.
WHO’S IN GOAL:
Brad Arvanitis: The 19-year-old Massachusetts native has recorded a .943 save percentage or better in four of his last five games, with a .940 overall in those five contests. Head coach Ryan Egan has given Arvanitis five of the last seven starts. We’ll see if Arvanitis gets the nod again, or if Friday will be a contest for Joe Marcouiller (8-3-0-1, .891)
JANESVILLE JETS
OVERVIEW:
Record: 33-8-0-3
Road Record: 15-6-0-1
Last Game: A 5-2 victory in Springfield on Tuesday
Goals For/Goals Against: 175 GF/113 GA
Power Play: 25.3% (2nd in the NAHL)
Penalty Kill: 82.3% (10th in the NAHL)
Leading Scorers: Cullen Munson (40GP – 18G – 27A – 45PTS), Peter Bates (42GP – 19G – 26A – 45PTS), Michael Maloney (43GP – 20G – 55A – 45PTS)
WHO’S UP FRONT:
Cullen Munson: The Jets’ third year forward, who recently passed Ross Mauermann for second in all-time scoring with his 100th point, has recorded 17 points in 12 games in 2017. Munson is one of five Jets players with a point-per-game pace this season, and with Adrian Holesinsky’s wrist injury finishing his season, currently sits first among active players with 1.13 points per game.
Joseph Abate: The future Badger has found a scoring touch in his last dozen games. Abate recorded 14 points his first 25 games in the NAHL, but in his last 12 has another 14. The accelerated scoring pace has the strong two-way forward playing with noticeable confidence.
WHO’S ON D:
Blake Wareham: The most recent D-I committed Jet has been the picture-perfect example of a reliable blueliner, suiting up for all 44 games so far and skating to a +17 mark. Wareham consistently eats big minutes for assistant coach Kyle Forte and will be expected to lead again this weekend.
WHO’S IN GOAL:
Jake Barczewski: The fresh-faced backstop was his usual, reliable self Tuesday, making both routine and eye-popping saves in a 26/28 win. Barczewski has won his last 11 decisions and is one of the top goaltenders in the NAHL this season. His .926 save percentage trails only Aston’s Mareks Mitens, and is the second goalie to 20 wins on the year. Versus Coulee Region, Barczewski is 4-1.