CLOQUET, Minn. The Janesville Jets split a two-game series with fellow Midwest Division opponent Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League Tier II juniors. In Minnesota, the Jets lost 8-1 on Saturday after beating the Wilderness 5-3 on Friday.
On Saturday, the Wilderness posted eight goals to defend their home ice compared to just one by the Jets. Three of Minnesotas goals were provided by Brady Zugec, who sealed the win by scoring all three goals in the final period.
Janesvilles lone goal was scored by Hans Hedlund at 17 minutes and 24 seconds in the first period. The Jets used that goal to build a 1-0 lead heading into the second period, but the Wilderness rattled off all eight of their goals in the final two periods.
Heading into Fridays contest, the Jets entered on a five-game skid, looking to gain some momentum. Boosted by a two-goal first period, the visiting Jets took the first game 5-3, getting back in the win column for the first time since Feb. 28.
Nick Messina tallied the games first score at 7:54 and was assisted by defenseman Luke Brierley and Ashton Hewer.
Janesville struck again shortly after at 9:33 with a tally from forward Phillippe Lalonde, assisted by defenseman Isaac Sabel and forward Sammy Smith.
The Wilderness came up empty in the initial period, unable to answer back to the Jets pair of goals.
After being shutout, Minnesota rallied back with a three-goal second period attack, scoring at 6:48, 14:42 and 16:35. Janesville added to its score total with another goal by Messina in the second period.
The contest heading into the third period was tied, with each team having 3 goals apiece. Third-period goals by Brierley and forward Rylan Brady proved to be the difference as the Jets snagged a road victory.
After the two games, Janesville holds a 15 and 32 record with 36 points, putting the Jets last in the Midwest Division.
Janesville returns to action on March 28 for a road game against the Springfield Jr. Blues.
SATURDAY
MINNESOTA 8, JANESVILLE 1
Janesville 1 0 01
FIRST PERIOD
JHans Hedlund (Murray Marvin-Cordes, Nick Messina), 17:24.
SECOND PERIOD
MJakeb Lynch (Lucas Jendek, Frantisek Netusil), 4:12. MFrantisek Netusil (Payton Struck, Zach Homer), 5:00. MRiver Freeman (Ben Roulette, Landon Cottingham), 9:54.
THIRD PERIOD
MJendek (Karson Young, Olle Karlsson), sh, 2:24. MBrady Zugec (Avery Anderson, Karlsson), 6:39. MZugec (Lynch, Young), 12:33. MZugec (Freeman, Noah Dziver), pp, 15:36.
SATURDAY
JANESVILLE 5, MINNESOTA 3
Janesville 2 1 25
Minnesota 0 3 03
FIRST PERIOD
JNick Messina (Luke Brierley, Ashton Hewer), 7:54. JPhillippe Lalonde (Isaac Sabel, Sammy Smith), 9:33.
SECOND PERIOD
MFrantisek Netusil (Jakeb Lynch, Luke Margenau), 6:48. JMessina (Hans Hedlund, Bauer Murphy), 10:42. MNate Murray (River Freeman, Brady Zugec), 14:42. MRiver Freeman (Ben Roulette, Thoman Manzella III), 16:35.
THIRD PERIOD
JBrierley (Hedlund, Joseph Hyten), pp, 12:35. J-Rylan Brady, en, 19:46.