PREVIEW: Jets vs. Jr. Blues (Game #50)

Mar 11, 2017

The Jets mounted an impressive third period comeback last night, beating the Springfield Jr. Blues 4-3 in regulation to secure two more points in the standings. Each of the Schmidling twins, celebrating birthdays, found the back of the net, and Jake Barczewski stood tall to secure the win. The victory, combined with a Magicians’ loss last night in Fairbanks, makes a division clinch possible with a repeat pair of outcomes.

SPRINGFIELD JR. BLUES

OVERVIEW:

Record: 23-24-2-1

Road Record: 11-13-0-1

Last Game: A 4-3 loss at Janesville last night

Goals For/Goals Against: 144GF/152GA

Power Play: 16.2% (19th in the NAHL)

Penalty Kill: 79.9% (15th in the NAHL)

Leading Scorers: Matt Long (47GP – 14G – 32A – 46PTS), Brennan Blaszcak (47GP – 21G – 11A – 32PTS), Matt Cassidy (45GP – 11G – 18A – 29PTS)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

Joseph Sardina: The Texan forward scored last night and has five points in nine games with his new club, a slightly better pace than he had in Bismarck, where he played 35 games and registered 14 points.

Matt Cassidy: The ’99 Quinnipiac commit tallied an assist last night for his 30th point of the season, good for third on the Springfield roster.

WHO’S ON D:

Chase Mickelson: Springfield’s top-scoring blueliner, Mickelson beat Barczewski last night to extend his goal streak to two games, and his point streak to three. All five of the Wisconsin native’s goals have come in the last sixteen games.

WHO’S IN GOAL: 

Jordan Greenfield-Flemon: The Jets mounted a third period comeback and stung Mike Robinson with a regulation loss. We’ll see if head coach Tony Zasowski taps Greenfield-Flemon, who announced his commitment to DIII Norwich a couple of weeks ago.

JANESVILLE JETS

OVERVIEW:

Record: 37-9-0-3

Home Record: 21-2-0-2

Last Game: A 4-3 victory versus Springfield last night

Goals For/Goals Against: 195GF/129 GA

Power Play: 25.0% (2nd in the NAHL)

Penalty Kill: 82.0% (10th in the NAHL)

Leading Scorers: Cullen Munson (44GP – 19G – 30A – 49PTS), Peter Bates (46GP – 20G – 29A – 49PTS), Michael Maloney (47GP – 21G – 27A – 48PTS)

WHO’S UP FRONT:

Ben & David Schmidling: The wonder twins had it in them. Ben found the goal sheet first, his third of the season, and  David picked up the tying goal at 3:31 of the third period, for his fourth. Each brother assisted on the other’s goal. The pair, playing with winger Jakov Novak, will try to create more chances again tonight.

Chris Dodero: The AIC commit scored in his second straight game last night and continues to impress following his return from a high ankle sprain that set him out for eight weeks. Dating back to before his injury, Dodero has eight points in his last seven games, going scoreless only in his first game back on February 24.

WHO’S ON D:

Adam Roeder: The captain made some Jets history last night, tying Alex Smith with his 14th career goal for most all-time from a Jets defenseman. Roeder tonight will pass Bryan Kronberger (2011-2014) for sole possession of third place in all-time games played when he laces the skates for the 138th time as a Jet. For a team with such high playoff aspirations as Janesville, leading the group through the last 10 regular season games and into the postseason will be Roeder’s capstone on a successful junior career.

WHO’S IN GOAL:

Jake Barczewski: What more can be said about Barczewski? He turned in a 37/40 performance last night, one one-hundredth of a point within his season save percentage (.925 vs .924), with plenty of timely, opportune, and team-energizing saves. The last time he registered a loss, there were Thanksgiving leftovers in your fridge.