I call it race horse hockey and the speed of the game seemed to pick up even more tonight over last night. Both teams played tough defense throughout the first period and the goalies are both on their “A” game. Neither team was able to score as the first stanza ended 0 – 0. Gavin Tufte was called for a check from behind penalty for the only infraction during the first. The Jetts were unable to score on the only Power Play and the Blues outshot the Jetts 10 – 7. The defense, again, stood out above the rest of the play during the period as the Blue and Gold plugged the crease to keep the puck out of the net and give a big assist to Gabe Antoni.
To say the second period was exciting would be a gross understatement. The Blues and the Jets played solid, fast paced defense throughout the period. Neither team was able to score until a “conference” goal was scored by Gavin Tufte at 16:02 with assists by Ethan Nauman and Jordan Johnson. The referee conferred with both benches and then went to the goal judge and finally ruled the goal scored. That was the first one and held up until two minutes and nine seconds later when Josef Pontasch intercepted a Jets pass in the neutral zone and took it to the house unassisted at 18:11 to make the score 2 – 0 Good Guys. It was Tufte’s 14th goal and Pontasch’s 22nd goal of the season and gives them 41 and 58 points for the season.
Third period was all Blues defense as they shut down the vaunted Jett Defense and played some of their best defense of the year. Neither team was able to score and the two second period goals by the Blue and Gold held up for the victory. Kyle Cook was the third star, Gavin Tufte the second star and Gabe “Zamboni” Antoni, pitching a shutout against Janesville was the number one star of the game.
Both teams had 29 shots on goal during the game. Janesville went 0 – 4 on the Power Play and 0 – 13 in the two games this weekend. The Blues scored a Power Play goal and special teams are performing at their peak. Blues go to 28 – 25 – 2 on the year.
The same two teams play tomorrow at 4:00 pm for the third and final game of this three game set. Congratulations Jr. Blues!
