St. Louis Bandits (18-5-1, 37 points) -- currently second in MidWest division.
Springfield Jr. Blues (9-13-1, 19 points) -- currently fourth in MidWest division.
When: Friday, December 2nd at 7pm at the Nelson Center (Springfield, Illinois)
The season hasn't started off exactly as well as Kyle Cook and the Springfield Junior Blues had planned--but Friday night the team looks to rejuvinate hope when they host the second-place St. Louis Bandits at home inside the Nelson Center to begin the second-half of the NAHL season.
Following the twelve day layoff due to Thanksgiving break, Springfield starts the second-half of the season off in fourth place in the MidWest division. Most definentely a huge hole to climb out of (nineteen-points behind Janesville for first-place), but the hope and determination most certainly looks to be there in this team.
Springfield has had it's fair share of good times and times this season. A key to success in the second-half would be if they could keep themselves out of the penalty box and played complete-team hockey--that is what could take this team very far. Also, some more consistensy out of both goalies', Tyler Parks and Connor Girard.
Kyle Cook, who led the team in 'Points' through the first twenty-three games, has most certainly been the heart and soul of the team. Thus far, he has netted eleven goals and assisted fifteen as well. In the last meeting with the Bandits on October 8th in St. Louis, Cook notched his first-career NAHL hat trick and led the Jr. Blues to a 7-2 victory.
Friday night marks the fourth meeting between the two teams. St. Louis holds a 2-1 lead in the season series so far and has outscored Springfield by a total of 13-to-9--but this will be the first matchup at the Nelson Center in Springfield, so maybe some home-cooking is exactlty what this team is in need of.
Springfield has an overall record of 4-7-1 at home, while St. Louis currently holds a sluggish 3-7-1 record on the road--and if there is one thing we need to do, it is take care of business on our own home ice the rest of the way out.
Head coach Joe Dibble hasn't announced the starter behind the net for tomorrow, but will do so during pregame warmups. The likely choice is Tyler Parks, who has been on fire as of recent and currently is believed to be the teams number one goalie at the moment--but Connor Girard wouldn't be a bad choice either.
Parks has started one game against St. Louis but has appeared in two contests. He is currently 1-0 against them and was a the owner of the W for the 7-2 game on October 8. In that contest he saved 39-of-41 shots and played the entire game. As for Girard, he has started two meetings against the Bandits and is 0-2. He has allowed ten goals on 77 shots taken against him.
The Junior Blues begin a stretch on Friday night where they will be playing at home for six of the next eight games. This is a huge, and exciting stretch for the team. The puck will drop at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.
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