The first-year Fargo-Moorhead Jets proved they could hold their own in the North American Hockey League West Division.
Now coach Shawn Kurulak is anxious to show the rest of the league what his team is capable of in the playoffs.
"The regular season treated us well," Kurulak said. "Right now, we made the cake by getting into the playoffs. Winning it would put the icing on the cake."
The Jets, who last week clinched second-place in the West Division and home ice for the opening round of playoffs, have one regular-season game remaining before beginning their quest for postseason glory.
F-M (32-21-2) is scheduled to play at struggling Minnesota (Alexandria, Minn.) today at 7:05 p.m.
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The Minnesota Blizzard defeated the Jets Friday night 7-2.
Minnesota scored five goals in the first and second periods.
The NAHL playoffs are slated to begin the first weekend in April.
Kurulak said the Jets should find out following their game Friday night who their first-round opponent will be.
The top four teams in each of the NAHL's three divisions (North, South, West) advance to the playoffs.
Billings won the regular season West Division title with a record of 38-14-2.
Three teams are currently vying for the final two West playoff spots.
Bismarck, which won the America West Hockey League title last season, is tied with Bozeman (Mont.) for third with 60 points. Helena (Mont.) is close behind with 58 points.
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Billings will host a five-game series against the No. 4 seed and the Jets will host No. 3.
"I don't think it matters who we play," said Jets forward Jeff Fearing, who committed to NCAA Division I Army this year. "Any team we play is going to be a tough series."
The Jets match up well with each of the West Division playoff contenders.
"I'd prefer a team that isn't playing their best," Kurulak joked. "But everyone seems to play at a higher level during playoffs.
"The bottom line is you have to beat everyone they put in front of you to win the championship."
The winners in each divisional playoff advance to the NAHL national tournament in Frisco, Texas.
The Texas Tornado, who finished first in the South division at 44-6-2, automatically advanced to nationals as the host team.
The Jets finished 4-4 against teams from the North and South divisions this year.
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"I think we still have a lot to prove to the rest of the league," Fearing said. "I don't think the other divisions have seen how good we can be."
FIRST PERIOD: 1, MB, Nelson (Selvog, Manthey) 16:26 (pp).
SECOND PERIOD: 2, MB, Kantrud (Crable, Akkerman) 2:32. 3, MB, Johnson (McDonald) 3:29. 4, MB, Meyers (Akkerman) 10:27 (pp). 5, MB, Nelson (Hall) 13:24. 6, F-M, Schaffer (Vesta, Myhro) 14:55. 7, F-M, Holman (Dickhudt) 17:26 (pp).
THIRD PERIOD: 8, MB, Carlson (Selvog (Manthey) 10:32 (pp). 9, MB, Crable (Peters, Timm) 19:03 (pp).
SAVES: F-M, DiLeo 8-6-7--21. MB, Schuman 10-7-11--28.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
