JANESVILLE, WI – The Jets put together a strong defense of the Blain’s Dairyland Milk Can Trophy in a home-and-home sweep of the Chippewa Steel last weekend, ousting the Steel 2-1 on Friday and 5-1 Saturday in Chippewa Falls.
Strong goaltending from Cole Brady and Garrett Nieto made things easier for the skaters in front of them. Brady’s 19-save victory on Friday, his first home win as a Jet, came behind the strength of Janesville’s revitalized penalty kill unit. The PK was a perfect 5-for-5 on home ice, with back-to-back kills staving off a Chippewa 5-on-3 advantage. Janesville’s goals Friday were both on the power play, both from Wisconsinites, and both Jets firsts: newcomer and Verona native Justin Engelkes (13:49 1st) scored on an assist from Hudson defenseman Jordon Halverson, who would add his own PPG in the second period for the eventual game-winner.
The stiff penalty kill was perfect again Saturday, going 4-4 in front of another phenomenal goaltending performance, this time a 26-save effort from Union commit Garrett Nieto. The Jets’ attack finally woke up, piling on with three third-period goals and hitting the five-goal mark for the first time this season. Second-period goals from veterans Matt Hanewall (14:27 2nd) and Erik Palmqvist (19:15 2nd) paved the way for first-year Jets to add the third-period gravy. First it was Czech defenseman Stanislav Dosek (2:51 3rd) scoring his first NAHL goal on a bouncing point shot, then Appleton rookie Erik Bargholtz (14:12 3rd) tallied his third of the young season. With less than a minute left, former Minot Minotauro Austin Koss (19:12 3rd) picked up his first in the Jets’ navy blue, jamming home a Mason Salquist rebound.
Coming Up
The Jets will get only a couple of practices in before packing up and making the first of two treks to Alaska this season on Wednesday. Janesville begins four games in the Last Frontier this weekend in Fairbanks. All games will be broadcast on HockeyTV.
Jets @ Ice Dogs | Fri Oct 5 | 10:30pm CDT
Jets @ Ice Dogs | Sat Oct 6 | 10:30pm CDT
