COULEE REGION CHILL at JANESVILLE JETS — Janesville Ice Arena
Fri 2/23 | 7:00pm | Janesville, WI
LIVE STREAM: HockeyTV | TWITTER: @JanesvilleJets1
LAST WEEKEND: The Jets split a pair of games in Richfield, Minnesota, versus the Magicians, with goaltender Garrett Nieto allowing only one goal on each night. That lone marker was the decider on Friday as Minnesota’s Isaiah Saville registered a 26-save shutout, but the Jets’ attack found its footing on Saturday in a 3-1 win. Team defense was key as Janesville stymied Minnesota to just 37 shots on goal for the entire weekend, of which Nieto turned away 35. Kip Hoffmann scored the game-tying goal on Saturday on his way to a three-point night, with Benji Eckerle earning the game-winner and Erik Palmqvist collecting an insurance marker on the power play. League-leading scorer Jakov Novak added two assists.
TONIGHT: The Jets can clinch a playoff spot tonight as they open a home-and-home series with their in-state rivals, the Coulee Region Chill. The Chill beat the Magicians last Thursday before splitting a home series with the Springfield Jr. Blues. Head coach Ryan Egan’s Chill are .500 in their last 10 games, but need to start making up ground quickly if they are going to catch either Springfield or Minnesota for a playoff spot. Both the Jr. Blues and the Magicians hold 13-point leads over the Chill, with all three teams looking at 14 games left to play.
The Jets and the Chill play for the traveling Dairyland Milk Can Trophy, which has stayed in Janesville since Thanksgiving weekend. Tonight is the 75th regular season game in the eight-year rivalry. The Jets lead, 46-18-5-5.
SEASON SERIES (Jets 4-1-0-0)
| Oct. 21 | @ Coulee Region | W, 3-2 |
| Oct. 22 | @ Coulee Region | W, 6-4 |
| Oct. 28 | @ Coulee Region | L, 3-1 |
| Nov. 22 | @ Coulee Region | W, 3-2 (OT) |
| Feb. 3 | Coulee Region | W, 3-1 |
| Feb. 23 | Coulee Region | 7:00pm CT |
| Feb. 24 | @ Coulee Region | 7:00pm CT |
| Mar. 1 | Coulee Region | 7:00pm CT |
| Mar. 23 | Coulee Region | 7:00pm CT |
| Mar. 24 | Coulee Region | 7:00pm CT |
Midwest Division Standings:
| Place | Team | Record | Pts |
| 1 | x – Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 36-5-3-2 | 77 |
| 2 | Janesville Jets | 29-10-2-2 | 62 |
| 3 | Springfield Jr. Blues | 22-19-4-1 | 49 |
| 4 | Minnesota Magicians | 22-19-3-2 | 49 |
| 5 | Coulee Region Chill | 14-24-3-5 | 36 |
| 6 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 15-28-1-2 | 33 |
COULEE REGION CHILL
OVERVIEW:
Record: 14-24-3-5 (5th, Midwest)
Road Record: 3-12-2-3
Goals For/Goals Against: 132GF/162GA
Power Play: 27.0% (2nd in the NAHL)
Penalty Kill: 78.5% (15th in the NAHL)
Top Scorers: Nick Bowman (40GP—21G-18A—39PTS), Brandon Koch (45GP—3G-30A—33PTS); Andrew McGlynn (43GP—10G-20A—30PTS)
JANESVILLE JETS
OVERVIEW:
Record: 29-10-2-2 (2nd, Midwest)
Home Record: 14-5-1-1
Goals For/Goals Against: 126GF/100GA
Power Play: 20.1% (12th in the NAHL)
Penalty Kill: 78.9% (14th in the NAHL)
Top Scorers: Jakov Novak (40GP—25G-30A—55PTS); Kip Hoffmann (43GP—17G-32A—49PTS); TJ Polglaze (43GP—8G-20A—28PTS)