Game of Threes

Apr 2, 2018

Your Springfield Jr. Blues have been playing the Game of Threes this past week. With a win in Janesville over the Jets on Wednesday, and a home sweep of the Minnesota Magicians over the weekend, the Springfield Jr. Blues had three games, three wins, and secured third place heading into the playoffs!

On Wednesday the team won in a shootout after spending most of the game down by one. With just 38 seconds left in the game, number 16, forward Nick Schultze fired one past former Jr. Blues goaltender, Garrett Nieto to tie the game. Each team earned a point  going into overtime, but it was a shootout goals by Nikita Kozyrev, and Brandon Puricelli along with 37 saves from Goalie Evan Fear that gave Springfield the win!

Friday night the team played in their home barn against the 4th place Magicians in a battle for the third seed in the Mid-West Dvivison. With an initial goal from Minnesota during the first period, Springfield stayed quiet into the second until 8:29 when Schultze scored for Springfield, tying the game. Just like in Janesville, the teams ended up in a shootout after a physical and confrontational third period, with several penalties for both teams.

In the shootout, Nikita Kozyrev again scored for Springfield and that was all Goaltender Evan Fear would need to secure the victory stopping every shot he faced. Fear stopped 33 shots in the win posting a  .969% save percentage.

Saturday night the team was quiet in the first, but came out determined in the second, and Sam Sterne scored the lone goal of the game at 18:08 with assists from Smyth and Puricelli. Fear stopped all 44 shots faced and locked Springfield into third place and a 1st round playoff matchup with Janesville.

This week the team will head out for their final two regular season games against the Coulee Region Chill on Friday and Saturday night. Be sure to come out to Cooper’s AlleySide to watch the game with other fans, eat amazing food, and possibly win prizes!