Jr. Blues dramatic win Saturday night may be what was needed

(**Photo Credits go to Jeff Coons**)

The dramatic finish to the Jr.Blues victory on Saturday night over the Topeka Roadrunners inside the Nelson Center may be exactly what first-year head coach Tony Zasowski and his young-and-hungry squad needed as the second-half of the schedule for this season is approaching us.

Mike Fazio netted home a goal at the 19:31 mark of the third and final period when the game was tied up at two goals each. The Springfield crowd of 635 inside the Nellie lit up and were in a loud and crazy uproar as Fazio's sixth goal of the season ended the teams five game losing streak and evened the season-series against division rival Topeka at three games each, instead of the Roadrunners leading it with four wins.

The game-ending fight that abrubted as the time had expired on the Jr. Blues' 3-2 win also may have lit some fire under this team. They brought it on the ice for the entire 60 minute game -- then came back as the clock had ran out and put in some overtime. Every player got in on defending one another, just as an organization and family of atheltes and teammates should do when in that situation.

The fight that occured was one of the biggest, craziest, and most bizarre endings to a hockey game at any and at all of the levels that I have seen. According to the North American Hockey League statisticals on the leagues official website, 33 penalties were attributed in the fight, amounting out to 255 minutes inside the penalty box. The Jr. Blues were handed out 10 penalties for 75 minutes -- Topeka recieved 23 penalties for 180 minutes.

The Jr. Blues entered the game on Saturday with five consecutive losses; and were on the verge of being swept for their third straight weekend in a row. Before the two games this past weekend against Topeka, Springfield played on the road for four straight games against both Kalamazoo and the Soo Eagles.

During the losing streak of five games, the team was outscored by a total of 11 goals as the opponents scored 18 goals compared to the Jr. Blues' seven. Both of the goalies -- Matt Leon and Ryan Kellenberger --played bad at all, but just seven goals scored through five full games isn't going to lead you to many wins.

The goal-scoring combo of Brett Skibba and Nate Chasteen certainly needs to wake up. The two have combined for 22 goals this season as Skibba has scored 14 goals and Chasteen has scored eight. Atkinson has scored seven goals, and Fazio's scored his sixth of the year on Saturday.

Most people around the North American Hockey League aren't really considering it a very big win at the moment, which is quite understandable. For now, it is what it is -- which in reality is just the teams eleventh of the season through 28 so far. If you saw the game in person though, I believe you would have a completely different opinion.

The Jr. Blues have the opportunity to make this game a huge stepping stone. What I saw in this team following Saturday nights game was a team that had been woken up from a huge sleep walking session. One thing can't be denied, this team has some major talent. The youth I feel has been in their learning stage, but they are growing in front of our eyes. If they can play the way that they did at the end of the game Saturday, and continue to back up one another such as they did as the clocked ticked to 0:00 and after.

For all we know, it could turn out to be "just another game", but then again, the Roadrunners also may have awoke a sleeping giant.