Jets advance to Robertson Cup

The Janesville Jets carried a 3-2 lead out of the opening period and didn’t allow the host Fairbanks IceDogs a chance to get any close on its way to wrapping up the North American Hockey League Midwest Division title in action at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Alaska Saturday (May 6, 2017).

The Jets went on to a 5-2 win to wrap up the Best of Five series in four games while the Aberdeen Wings also collected a 5-2 win on home ice at the Odde Ice Center against visiting Minnesota Wilderness, pushing their Central Division series to the five-game limit.

Jets 5 at IceDogs 2

The Jets scored twice in the opening 7:13 to open a 2-1 lead in Fairbanks. Jack Gates had the first at the 2:41 mark to open the scoring, only to have Grayson Gavin tie it up for the home side 6:10 into the game.

Kip Hoffman put the Jets back in front with his sixth of the post season 63 seconds later and Michael Maloney’s goal with 1:51 to go in the frame stood up as the game winner.

Bauer Neudecker got the IceDogs to within one just over a minute later, but that was the final goal of the season for the home team, Jacob Barczewski stopping all 11 Fairbanks’ shots in the final 40 minutes on his way to an 18-save series capturing win in goal.

Peter Bates had the lone second period goal just past the halfway mark for the Jets and Hoffman fired his second of the night into an empty net with 28 seconds to play, triggering the Janesville celebration.

Eric Gordon stopped 25 shots in goal for the IceDogs

The Jets will now move into the Robertson Cup Championship event along with winners from the Midwest, South and East Divisions.

Wilderness 2 at Wings 5

The Wilderness also looked to wrap up its series, but were denied by the host Wings who opened the scoring in the third minute and put broke a 1-1 draw after a period with a 4-1 margin through the final 20 minutes.

Kevin Fitzgerald of the Wings and Louis Roehl of the Wilderness provided the first period goals but it was Carson Dimoff putting the hosts in front to stay with a pair of middle period markers.

Jesse Farabee got the Wilderness to within a goal early in the third period but Adam Pitters restored the two-goal margin for the Wings in the ninth minute and Colin Raver settled it with his empty netter still 3:23 from the final buzzer.

Forbes Ploszaj picked up the win in goal for the Wings with 25 saves and Luke Kania stopped 31 shots in goal for the Wilderness.

The same two teams will line up for a fifth and final time at the Northwood Credit Union Arena in Cloquet, MN on Monday to settle the series. Winner will advance to the Robertson Cup tournament.