Indians cap regular season with split

After going undefeated through their first 21 home games this season, the Michigan Soo Indians have fallen on hard times lately.

Heading into Saturday night's regular season finale against the Springfield Jr. Blues, the Indians had just one win in their last three home contests.

With home ice wrapped up through the North Division playoffs, the Indians we looking to head into the playoffs on a positive note, and that they did just that.

The Indians finished the NAHL regular season Saturday night at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre with a 3-0 win over the Springfield Jr. Blues after the Jr. Blues snapped a seven game winless skid the night before in a 3-2 victory over the Indians.

On Friday night, Pat Lee scored the game winning goal shorthanded as the Blues skated to the 3-2 win. Lee added another goal in the game while Hank Carisio scored the other Springfield goal.

Logan Bittle, on the power play, and Joe Beaudry scored the Soo goals. Derek MacIntyre stopped 17 shots in the Indians goal while Wes Russell stopped 27 in the Springfield win.

On Saturday night, Ian Harper was outstanding in goal for the Jr. Blues, but it was all for nothing as Stavros Paskaris and Bittle each had a goal and an assist for the Indians in a 3-0 win.

Derek Punches scored the other Soo goal. Harper stopped 40 shots in the loss, while Adam Dekker stopped all 17 Springfield shots directed in his way.

With the win on Saturday night, the Indians set a new team record for most wins in a season with 44.

The Indians finished the regular season with a 44-6-6 record, which was good for top spot in the Northern Division and second overall behind the Texas Tornados.

By way of their win on Friday, the Jr. Blues clinched home ice in at least the opening round of the playoffs next weekend.

The NAHL playoffs opened up on Thursday night as Billings and Helena squared off in the opening game of the West Division playoffs, a game in which Billings won 3-0.

The Indians will open up the Northern Division playoffs on Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre as the US Nationals will make the trip north from Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on the Indians.

The series, which is a best-of-five, will continue on Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan before shifting to Ann Arbor for game three on April 9 and, if necessary, game four on April 10.

If necessary, a game five would see the two teams back at the Chi Mukwa on Easter Sunday.