NAHL Weekend Preview

November 6, 2015

The NAHL gets back to action this weekend with a somewhat lighter schedule as Friday and Saturday night each have nine games, with one more game on Sunday. 

 

The season has passed its quarter point and while some teams have separated themselves from the pack, it is sweating time already for others, who are on the outside looking in of the playoff picture.

 

Watch all the action live this weekend on FASTHockey

 

 

MN Magicians vs. Brookings (home and home) – The Magicians are coming off a big 3-2 win on Thursday night over Austin.  This will be the second and third meetings of the year between the two clubs.  Brookings won the only meeting to date, 5-1 on October 16th.  Magicians goalie Will Ulrich has allowed just two goals in his last three appearances. Blizzard forward Mikael Hakkarainen has four points in his last five games.

 

Bismarck @ Aberdeen (Fri) – The Wings enter the weekend riding a five-game losing streak. The Bobcats are coming off a weekend split in Minnesota against the Wilderness, although the Bobcats have won four of their last six. Bobcats forward Nick Alexander has three of the four game-winning goals in that span. Bismarck won the only match-up to date between the two teams, a 5-2 win back on October 16th.

 

Minot @ Aberdeen (Sat) – This is the first meeting of the season between the Minotauros and Wings. After winning nine in a row, the Minotauros have dropped their last three games, scoring just three goals in that span. Defenseman James LaDouce has four points in his last five games. Wings forward Tucker DeYoung also has four points in his last five games to lead the team.

 

Johnstown @ Aston (Fri) – The Rebels return from Alaska with three wins in four games in their pocket and sit just three points out of 1st place in the East. The Tomahawks are a point behind the Rebels in the standings and need to get back to playing good team defense, as they have allowed 15 goals in their last two games. The Rebels are 2-0 against the Tomahawks this season with both wins coming at home back on October 2nd and October 9th.

 

New Jersey @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Fri) – The 1st place Titans have won four of their last six games and Friday will mark the fifth game in a row they will have faced the Knights. Last weekend, New Jersey won 5-1 at home, but fell 3-2 on the road in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Knights have won three of their last five. New Jersey holds a 4-2 edge in the series to date.

 

Aston @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Sat) – Aston and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have played three times so far this season an the Rebels have a 2-1 edge. However, the Knights shutout the Rebels back on October 17th during the last time the two teams played. Rebels defenseman Kristofers Bindulis was runner-up for NAHL defenseman on the month in October.

 

Johnstown @ New Jersey (Sat) – The Titans hold a 3-1 edge over the Tomahawks in the season series to date. New Jersey shutout Johnstown during the last time the two teams played on October 17th. New Jersey forward Raymond Brice has seven points in his last five games. Johnstown forward Casey Linkenheld has seven points in his last four games.

 

Fairbanks @ Kenai River – Fairbanks and Kenai River will play a three-game set this weekend, which includes the only NAHL game on Sunday. The Brown Bears enter the weekend on a 13-game losing streak. The Ice Dogs have won five of their last six games. Fairbanks is 4-0 against Kenai River so far this season, outscoring the Brown Bears 24-9 in those four games.

 

MN Wilderness @ Janesville – This weekend will be a Robertson Cup Semi-Finals rematch from a season ago as the Wilderness travel to Janesville. It is expected to be a defensive showdown and goaltending battle and the two clubs rank in the Top 4 in the NAHL in least goals allowed per game. This is the first meeting of the year between the two teams. 

 

Wichita Falls @ Amarillo – The 1st place Wildcats have won eight of their last nine games and are one of only two NAHL teams with just one regulation loss. At 12-1-2, the Wildcats have the best record in the league. The Wildcats have allowed just five goals in their last five games. The Bulls have won one of their last five games. This is the first meeting of the year between the two clubs. 

 

Coulee Region vs. Austin (home and home) – The Chill have won just one of their last five games. The Chill are second to last in both power play percentage and goals for per game. The Bruins had their four-game winning streak snapped last night in a 3-2 road loss against the Magicians. Bruins forward Jade Miller leads the NAHL with five game-winning goals. This is the first meeting of the year between the two teams.

 

Springfield @ Topeka – This weekend marks the 5th and 6th time in the last four weeks the Jr. Blues and the RoadRunners will have faced one another. The teams have split each of their last two series. In each instance, the RoadRunners on the Friday night game, only to see the Jr. Blues win on Saturday. Topeka defenseman John O’Connor has four points in his last five games. Springfield goalie Niko Della Maggorie was named the NAHL Goalie of the Month for October earlier this week.