Springfield Jr. Blues (9-9-2, 20 Points) vs. Topeka Roadrunners (14-4-2, 30 Points)
Two Games -- Friday, November 16th and Saturday, November 17th
Both games inside the Nelson Center; puck will drop at 7:05 pm Central Time
Season Series (8 Head-to-Head Matchups in 2012-2013
(season series tied 1-1 through 2-of-8 total meetings)
Game 1-Jr. Blues 2, Roadrunners 0 (October 19th) Kansas Expo in Kansas
Game 2-Roadrunners 1, Jr. Blues 0 (October 20th) Kansas Expo in Kansas
Game 3-Roadrunners vs. Jr. Blues (November 16th) Nelson Center (7:05 pm)
Game 4-Roadrunners vs. Jr. Blues (November 17th) Nelson Center (7:05 pm)
Game 5-Roadrunners vs. Jr. Blues (December 7th) Nelson Center (7:05 pm)
Game 6-Roadrunners vs. Jr. Blues (December 8th) Nelson Center (7:05 pm)
Game 7-Jr. Blues vs. Roadrunners (December 28th) Kansas Expo (7:05 pm)
Game 8-Jr. Blues vs. Roadrunners (December 29th) Kansas Expo (7:05 pm)
Last Weekend Results (Jr. Blues and Roadrunners)
-The Jr. Blues went 1-1 against the Soo Eagles at home. (5-3 win Fri; 5-2 loss Sat)
-The Roadrunners went 1-1 against the Amarillo Bulls at home. (5-2 win Fri; 4-2 loss Sat.)
Big Story of the Weekend inside the Nelson Center
This weekend inside the Nelson Center will feature the Jr. Blues playing host to one of the top teams thus far in the North American Hockey League, the Topeka Roadrunners. Topeka enters the series in the state capital of Illinois having won 14 of their 20 games so far this season, and is a league best 8-1-1 away from their home ice. They are led by a phenominal dynamic combo of forwards in Sean Gaffney and Kyle Sharkley, as well as one of the leagues' best goalies in Spencer Viele. Gaffney has 30 points this season and has scored 16 goals. Sharkley has scored 13 goals and has the teams second most goals with 13. Spencer Viele has an overall record on the season of 10-1-0 in 11 starts between the pipes and shut out Springfield in his only start against them on October 20th in Topeka's 1-0 win inside the Kansas Expo.
The Jr. Blues enter with having won five of their last six games, and are looking to start a new winning streak following last Saturday night's 5-2 loss to the Soo Eagles inside the Nelson Center. Head coach Tony Zaoswski and assistant Mike Janda have their young and athletic club playing their best hockey of the season, and have a goalie in Matt Leon who has a win streak of his own still intact entering his start on Friday night. Leon has won five starts in a row and shut out the Roadrunners in his only start against Topeka in the Jr. Blues' 2-0 win on October 19th. This weekend presents a huge test for Brett Skibba and his Jr. Blues team, but if the team can overcome adversity -- and one of the top teams in the league -- we will most certainly know for sure or not if the Jr. Blues are turning the corner on this current season.
Team Scope
Springfield Jr. Blues-The Jr. Blues enter the series this weekend with five wins in their last six games, and have most certainly been playing their best stretch of hockey so far this season. They seen their season-high, five game win streak come to an end last Saturday but are ready to prove to the rest of the league that they are a lot better than how they began this season. Matt Leon enters the opener on Friday night with a five game win streak of his own between the pipes and shut Topeka out in his only start against them this season back on October 19th. Springfield is not only facing the Roadrunners this weekend, but also adversity as well. The way that you respond following a loss -- especially after a win streak -- tells a lot about the heart of a team. Brett Skibba and the Jr. Blues have a lot to prove to the rest of the North American Hockey League in these two games inside the Nellie this weekend.
Topeka Roadrunners-The Roadrunners enter this weekends two game series inside the Nelson Center with just about no weight on their shoulders. The team is a league-best 8-1-1 away from the Kansas Expo, and have one of the best goalies that the North American Hockey League has to offer. Spencer Viele has won six starts in a row between the pipes, and shut Springfield out in his only start against the Jr. Blues this season back on October 20th. The Roadrunners have two of the best forwards in the game in Sean Gaffney and Kyle Sharkley. Gaffney (16) and Sharkley (13) have combined for 29 goals this season and also are +22 combined on the ice. The team lost their last road game two weekends against the Amarillo Bulls, which will have them hungry entering the games this weekend. Topeka will have a lot of eyes on them this weekend as they are still looking to prove that they are one of the elite teams in the league as the Jr. Blues have been among one of the hottest teams in the NAHL.
Who is Hot Entering This Weekend's Series (Both Teams)
-Springfield Jr. Blues - The Jr. Blues enter this weekend with wins in five of their six games overall. The team has been playing their best stretch of hockey this season and has a lot to prove to the rest of the North American Hockey League in this weekends games at home.
-Topeka Roadrunners -The Roadrunners enter the series this weekend as the second best team in the South division, and have the best road record in the North American Hockey League. Despite losing their last game away from home against Amarillo, Topeka is 8-1-1.
-Matt Leon -The Jr. Blues game one goaltender has been one of the hottest between the pipes over the last month of the season and is a large part in the teams recent success. He is 6-3-2 overall on the season and entering his start on Friday, he owns a five game winning streak. In his only start this season against the Roadrunners, Leon shut Topeka out on 22 shots on Oct. 19th.
-Spencer Viele -The Roadrunners starting goaltender has been one of the best that the North American Hockey League has to offer between the pipes. Viele is 10-1-0 in 11 starts this season and owns a six game win streak himself. In his only start against the Jr. Blues this season, Spencer shut Springfield out as Topeka won 1-0 back on October 20th inside the Kansas Expo.
Series Preview from the North American Hockey League's official website. (click here)
No comments:
Post a Comment