Weekend Preview: Chippewa Steel @ Jets (G48 & G49)

Mar 1, 2019

By Mason Lyttle (@MasonLyttle) | March 1, 2019 | 11:26am

JANESVILLE, WI – After splitting last week against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, a third consecutive home series for the Jets pits them against their in-state rivals, the Chippewa Steel in the last series of the new-look rivalry.

The Battle of Wisconsin’s traveling trophy, the Blain’s Dairyland Milk Can Trophy, is again on the line as the Jets look to bank four points in an ever-tightening playoff race. Janesville is tied with Springfield at 54 points in the standings, but a game in-hand for the Jets has them in sole possession of third place. The Ice Dogs hold a six-point lead over the Jets, and a looming three-game set between the two teams (March 14-16 in Fairbanks) could single-handedly determine home ice advantage in the first round of the Midwest Division Finals.

The team’s attention tonight, though, is on the Chippewa Steel, a club Janesville has had relative success against this season. With a 6-1-1-0 mark through eight of the series’ 10 games this regular season, the Jets have already cinched the series victory. The young and developing program in Chippewa, though, are not interested in rolling over. With lots to prove and a huge statement opportunity in Janesville, the Steel will bring the Jets a tough challenge in the finale series of the Battle of Wisconsin.

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JANESVILLE JETS

Record: 25-18-2-2 (3rd, Midwest)
Home Record: 12-10-2-0
Last Ten Games: 6-4-0-0
Goals For/Game: 
2.56 (17th)
Goals Against/Game:
 3.02 (16th)
Shots For/Game: 27.23 (22nd)
Shots Against/Game:
 31.53 (12th)
Power Play: 
14.1% (22nd)
Penalty Kill: 
76.5% (19th)
Top Scorers: 
F Jack Vincent (44GP—11G-16A—27PTS); F Matt Hanewall (44GP—12G-12A—24PTS); Multiple Players (22PTS)
Goaltenders: 
Cole Brady (17-11-1-2; 2.73 GAA; .913 SV%); Sam Metcalf (7-7-0-1; 3.18 GAA; .897 SV%); Garrett Nieto (3-3-0-0; 3.42 GAA; .899 SV%)* 
Rostered Commitments: D John Prokop (Miami); F Nicholas Nardella (Michigan Tech); F Justin Engelkes (Miami); F Erik Bargholtz (Michigan State); G Cole Brady (Arizona State); G Garrett Nieto (Union)*

* Injured Reserve


CHIPPEWA STEEL

Record: 15-30-2-1 (6th, Midwest)
Road Record: 6-13-1-1
Last Ten Games: 3-6-1-0
Goals For/Game: 2.25 (22nd)
Goals Against/Game:
 3.42 (20th)
Shots For/Game: 27.79 (21st)
Shots Against/Game:
 31.25 (9th)
Power Play: 
17.6% (18th)
Penalty Kill: 
82.0% (12th)
Top Scorers: 
F Camden Thiesing (42GP—11G-16A—27PTS); F Killian Kiecker-Olson (47GP—10G-17A—27PTS); F Jacob Dirks (48GP—16G-10A—26PTS)
Goaltenders: 
Josh Langford (8-19-1-1; 3.19 GAA; .901 SV%); Igor Samokhvalov (5-4-0-0; 2.50 GAA; .920 SV%)
Rostered Commitments: 
G Josh Langford (Maine); D Dylan Moulton (Bowling Green); F Camden Thiesing (Ohio State); D Hunter Weiss (Notre Dame)