The Rush: Janesville @ Brookings (Game #20)

Nov 18, 2017

The Rush is a new series that will be posted on JanesvilleJets.com following Game 1 of each regular season series. In The Rush, we will give a quick rundown and list important takeaways: good and bad, that Janesville will need to carry over in the series finale.

Game 1: Janesville @ Brookings — 11/17/17
Jets 3, Blizzard 4 (OT)


Digging holes

Last night, the Jets surrendered the game’s first goal for the 10th time in 19 regular season games. While the Jets have largely defied standard expectations for teams coming from behind (6-3-1-0 when allowing the game’s first goal—a .65 points percentage that would have earned 2nd place in three of the NAHL’s four divisions last season), it’s a sports truism that starting a game well leads to better results. Get the lead, hold it, win the game. The Blizzard did two of those three things yesterday, but came away with two points to Janesville’s one.

Chemistry

Three of Janesville’s six skaters with a positive +/- mark were the second line: Sagissor—Renlund—Polglaze. The veteran Polglaze sparked his line’s energy all night, working hard in corners and winning loose puck battles on a night where Janesville lost more of those than they should have. The reward came for Polglaze’s hard work in the form of a power play goal, his first of the season, to tie the game at 2-2. Sam Renlund created plays throughout last night’s game and is showing expected chemistry alongside Sagissor and Polglaze. Renlund and Polglaze lived together in Omaha in the 2015-16 season playing for the AAA Lancers program.

D-Zone Due Diligence

When a team allows 40+ shots in a game, adjustments are often needed. For Janesville that starts at the blue line, where gaps were inconsistent and sticks were passive last night. In the zone, more effort is needed on clearing attempts and filling passing lanes. Tonight the Jets will try to tighten some loose screws and get back on the winning track in Game #20.


JANESVILLE JETS (13-5-1-0) at BROOKINGS BLIZZARD (10-9-0-1) — Larson Ice Center
Sat. 11/18 |  7:05pm  |  Brookings, SD

LIVE STREAM: HockeyTV  |  TWITTER: @JanesvilleJets1