| Express tackle Blizzard |
By: IAN STAUFFER
istauffer@owatonna.com
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Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:54 pm
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Pat Cullen
Express coach
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OWATONNA — The last time the Owatonna Express and Alexandria Blizzard faced off, the Blizzard scored two third-period goals in a come-from-behind 4-2 victory in Owatonna.
Since then, the two teams have combined to win 17 of 23 games and the Express have jumped from fourth to third in the Central Division.
Despite the teams’ one meeting this season, Express coach Pat Cullen said he won’t be looking back to that game for research.
“It was way too long ago,” Cullen said. “I’m sure they’ve improved a lot since we played them, and I know we have. It’s pretty hard to take anything from that game now. Both teams have changed a lot.”
That really only leaves one option — go out and play. That’s what the teams will do when the meet at 7 p.m. Friday in the second of nine meetings this season.
The Blizzard lead the Central Division with 26 points, while Owatonna is third with 21. Bismarck sits in second, two points ahead of the Express.
“If we’re going to catch Alex in the race, the best way to do it is to beat them when we play them,” Cullen said. “We’ve got a ways to go to catch them, so we just need to take it one game at a time.”
If any team knows about coming from behind, it’s the Blizzard. Alexandria was mired in last place in the Central Division last season with a 3-14-2 record, the worst in the NAHL at the time. Then the Blizzard won 10 of 11 games, including a come-from-behind 9-8 game over the Express in Owatonna. The Express led that game 8-3 in the third period before Alexandria charged back and won the game in overtime. The Blizzard went on to finish third in the division and beat both Southern Minnesota and Springfield in the playoffs to earn a spot at the Robertson Cup Championships.
Several players are back from that team, including forwards Jerry Freismuth and Brandon Bahnemann. Freismuth is the leading scorer in the NAHL this season with 29 points, while Bahnemann is tied for second on the Blizzard with 17 points.
“They’re good, that’s for sure,” Cullen said about the Blizzard. “They’ve got a lot of returning players from last year ... they should be a team that scores a lot with the experience they have. It will be a challenge for our team, no doubt about it.”
Owatonna has won its last four games and six of its last seven, while Alexandria is winless in its last two.
After tonight’s game, Owatonna has four days off before a rare Wednesday night road game at North Iowa. |
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