| Express bounce back with big win over Alex |
By: IAN STAUFFER
istauffer@owatonna.com
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Posted: Saturday, January 31, 2009 11:06 pm
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Express forward Cory Thorson (16) jumps over Alexandria defenseman Lane Bitz while advancing the puck in the third period of Saturday night’s game at the Four Seasons Centre. Thorson scored two goals in Owatonna’s 4-2 win.
Thom Caya/People's Press
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OWATONNA — John Kruse’s wrist is apparently just fine.
The Eden Prairie native scored two goals and narrowly missed on three more to lead the Owatonna Express to a streak-snapping 4-2 win over the Alexandria Blizzard on Saturday at the Four Seasons Centre.
Kruse missed nearly three months with a broken right wrist he suffered before the season began, but has had a major impact since he returned to the lineup on Jan. 10. He has recorded at least one point in all seven games since the injury, including four multi-point games. His two goals Saturday brought his season total to six.
“He’s doing exactly what we expect him to be doing,” Owatonna coach Pat Cullen said. “He was out for a while and he’s got to make up for lost time.”
Kruse was one of Owatonna’s key acquisitions during the off-season as the expansion Express searched for experience, but he was relatively ineffective during the first month of the season because he was playing with a broken wrist, though he didn’t know it. He eventually had surgery in late October and didn’t play again until January.
“The coaches had me working out on the bike almost every day while I was out to keep me in shape,” said Kruse, who has played on a line with Steve Carew and Dan Cecka since coming back. “I was lucky to get paired up with Stevie and Cecka. Those two are great players and they can do everything. They make my job easy.”
Cory Thorson also scored twice for the Express (21-18-1, 43 points) on Saturday and now has 20 goals on the season. Thorson’s second goal was an empty-netter with 39 seconds left to seal the game.
The win pulled Owatonna into a tie with Alexandria (20-15-3, 43) in the Central Division and also snapped a two-game losing streak for the Express. On Friday, the Blizzard dominated the Express for two and a half periods in a 7-5 win.
“I don’t know if we just weren’t mentally prepared of what (Friday),” Kruse said. “That wasn’t the case tonight. Everyone came out flying and everyone contributed and we got the W.”
Express goalie Freddy Bergman stopped 26 shots to improve his record to 3-0 in games he starts since joining Owatonna in January via a trade with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League.
“Our entire team played better tonight, and our defensemen played really well,” Cullen said. “I wish I knew what we did better or different than (Friday) so I could make us do it every night. Friday was just one of those you want to forget about it.”
The Express will play two games on the road next weekend at division-leading Bismarck (53 points). Friday’s game begins at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday’s starts at 7 p.m. Owatonna could clinch a playoff berth with one win if Albert Lea loses both its games next weekend or two wins and one Albert Lea loss.
Express 3, Blizzard 2
Alexandria 0 1 1 — 2
Owatonna 2 1 0 — 3
First period—1, O, Cory Thorson (Marian Fiala) 4:25; 2, O, John Kruse (Steve Carew) 10:56. Penalties—Zach Vierling, Owatonna (tripping) 11:55; Jerry Freismuth, Alexandria (hooking) 18:44; Tony McDonald, Owatonna (interference) 19:25.
Second period—3, A, Garrett Grimstad (Jon Swavely) 1:22 (pp); 4, O, Kruse (Joe Beaudette, Dan Cecka) 9:37 (pp). Penalties—Cecka, Owatonna (tripping) 4:05; Bench minor, Alexandria (too many men) 8:51; Joe Knoepke, Alexandria (hooking) 9:08; Tyler Swanson, Alexandria (slashing) 16:03; Knoepke, Alexandria (tripping) 17:46.
Third period—5, A, Freismuth (Swavely, Grimstad) :46 (pp); 6, O, Thorson (Michael Palmiscno, Tony McDonald) 19:21 (en). Penalties—Kruse, Owatonna (elbowing) :22; Trent Johnson, Alexandria (hooking) 10:55; Fiala, Owatonna (tripping) 15:39; Clement, Alexandria (slashing) 19:50.
Shots on goal—Alexandria 8-9-11—28; Owatonna 12-11-7—30.
Power-play opportunities—Alexandria 2 of 5; Owatonna 1 of 7.
Goalies—Alexandria, Ryan Leets (29 shots-26 saves); Owatonna, Freddy Bergman (28-26). |
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