Posted on Feb 4, 2008

Minnesota Owls 6 Granite City Lumberjacks 2 A harsh reality became visible to fans this past weekend as they watched the scoreboard of both games and realized every game is going to be difficult from here on out. MJHL teams will do battle in the upcoming/final weeks in an effort to secure home ice advantage moving into the playoffs. Friday’s night game in Blaine proved to be the beginning of the end of the season for the Lumberjacks. These final games of the season are vital and each player’s stride taken on the ice becomes ever so important in taking leaps towards securing a victory and taking two points. Our home town faithful drove into Blaine looking to capture two points and continue a winning streak bolstered around solid team efforts. The Owls came into the game looking for revenge and an opportunity to move up in the standings on route to a home playoff series. The game began with the Owls jumping out early with a goal at the 5:00 mark. This was the start to a night where the Lumberjacks would witness the Owls score four power play goals. The period would end with the Owls leading 2-0 after #25 Zach Wohlers netted his second goal with just under two minutes left to play. The Owls would outshoot the ‘Jacks 11-10 in the period. The second period got jump started with the Lumberjacks breaking through at the 5:54 mark. #12 Aaron Filstrup would get credit for the goal with a single assist going to #08 Matt Krueger. #17 Nick Ellis would continue the scoring for the Lumberjacks four minutes later with his goal. #26 Kyle Kalina and #08 Matt Krueger would receive honors for their assists on Ellis’s goal. The game would remain even for the next ten minutes before #23 Justin Neis would score the game-winner at the 19:00 mark of the middle frame. The scoring gap between the teams would only increase as the game persisted through the final period. The Owls would go on route to score three more goals in a nine minute span to take the home victory by a score of 6-2. Two of their goals would come on the power play for the Owls. The game would end with the Owls out-shooting the Lumberjacks 41-33 for the game. Minnesota Ice Hawks 2 Granite City Lumberjacks 1- SO A tough road loss the night before left the Lumberjacks returning home on Saturday to face a hungry Ice Hawks team desperately wanting two points. The Ice Hawks entered the game just points behind the first place Mustangs and every point more important towards another conference title. The previous two home games versus the Ice Hawks ended with the Lumberjacks losing by a goal. Saturday’s game did not begin well for the large crowd in attendance. #06 Dirk Foss would score early for the Ice Hawks at the 3:41 mark on an assist from #21 Bryce Wilcox. The opening goal of the game for the Ice Hawks would allow them to carry a 1-0 until #05 Matt Johnson aroused the crowd with his tying goal at 14:45. #09 Sean Kenny would pick up the lone assist on the goal. The opening period would end with the two teams knotted at one. The final two periods would remain scoreless with both teams firing a total of 39 shots. Both goaltenders, #01 Tyler Venne, Lumberjacks, and #01 Mike Brach battled back and fourth competing for the acclimation of best save. Either team could find the back of the net in the final forty minutes a composed within the second and third period. The overtime session would go scoreless and both teams would be forced to participate in a shootout. An exhausting game for both goalies would end with the Ice Hawks scoring three breakaway advantage goals compared to the lone Lumberjacks shootout goal. The Ice Hawks would receive credit for the shootout victory, thus drawing conclusion to an emotional victory for the Ice Hawks and heartbreak loss for a young Lumberjacks team.