The Janesville Jets hosted the Minnesota Wilderness for a cross-division series over the weekend and came away with their first sweep since their season-opening games Nov. 5-6.
The first 25 minutes of the series opener passed by quietly and neither team was able to put up any points in the first period. But the Jets offense got a huge boost in the beginning of the second and scored three goals in less than four minutes. The first two, from Charlie Schoen and Shane Ott, came within 20 seconds of each other. Shortly after, Ott added his second of the game to bring the score to 3-0.
Janesville held its lead and Riley Sims continued to impress in net in the final period of play. He didn’t allow the Wilderness to score on any of their eight shots and the Jets killed a penalty in front of him to cement the 3-0 victory. It was Sims’ first shutout of the season and just his second in his junior hockey career.
The second game started in the same fashion as the first, and both teams were scoreless after one period. Will Troutwine broke through at 5:14 of the middle frame to put the Jets on the board, his first in league play for the season. Janesville held the lead for a while, until Mitchell Joss scored for Minnesota with three minutes remaining in the second period to make it a 1-1 game.
Shane Ott continued his scoring tear with his third goal in two games at 1:17 of the second period, but the Wilderness answered back to tie the game at 2-2 49 seconds later. The teams exchanged penalties late in the third but neither could capitalize on their respective power plays.
Shane Ott then buried his fourth goal in two games with just two seconds on the clock for the game-winning tally and a 3-2 victory. Owen Millward took the win in net, his fifth of the season.
The Jets remain at the top of the Midwest Division standings after the weekend with a 7-4-2-0 record and 16 points.
Next Flight
The Jets are off for a week before returning to action with a three-game slate against the Kenai River Brown Bears at home Jan. 29-31. Friday and Saturday’s games are at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday’s finale is set for 3 p.m.