'Jackets Tie In Playoff Opener   Friday night's NCHA playoff opener was a microcosm of the last six weeks for the Yellowjackets.  Over the course of that stretch, the 'Jackets have played some good hockey, unfortunately, they haven't been able convert that good play into wins.  For some reason, the hockey gods just haven't smiled on the 'Jackets this season.  On Friday, the 'Jackets played arguably their best game of the entire season, yet the breaks didn't go their way and rather than a win, they were forced to settle for a tie, 4-4 against St. Scholastica in the first game of their NCHA quarterfinal series. The tie, the sixth of the year for the Yellowjackets, means that Saturday's game will be a winner-take-all game, with the winner advancing to the second round and the loser potentially seeing their season come to an end. As has been the case in the previous three meetings this season, the Saints opened the scoring.  Dustin DeGagne scored on a one-timer from the right point, giving the Saints a 1-0 lead with the power play goal at 10:42 of the first period.  The Yellowjackets wasted little time, however, in answering the goal.  Casey Dion (Fr. Colorado Springs, Colorado) took a shot from the left circle that was tipped home by Josh Kesler (Fr. Naperville, Illinois) just 57 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1.  Kesler's third goal of the year was also assisted by Thomas Erlacher (Fr. Brunico, Italy).  As the first period was coming to a close Logan Isley (Jr. Bonnyville, Alberta) got a rebound in the slot but batted it home with a high stick.  The goal light went on, the referee pointed as if the goal was scored, but after a short conference they elected to waive off the goal.  To add insult to injury, the faceoff was brought back down into Yellowjacket territory.  Off that ensuing faceoff, the 'Jackets were able to clear the zone, but the Saints came right back in and Aaron Spotts took a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Bryan Dalbec (So. Superior, Wisconsin) to make it 2-1 with just 42 seconds left in the period. In the second period, the Saints made it a 3-1 game at 13:11.  An ill-advised pass up the middle was broken up in the neutral zone and the Saints came in on a rush.  After the turnover, a clearing attempt was held in the zone and puck came to Jeremy Dawes in the slot whose shot beat Dalbec between the pads, and the 'Jackets were down two.  Just over a minute later, however, the 'Jackets again closed the gap to one.  A bouncing puck came to Chris Wilson (Sr. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan) at the blue line, and he teed it up and let a slap shot go that beat Saints goaltender Zach Kleiman to make it 3-2.  Isley and Talon Berlando (Jr. Drumheller, Alberta) assisted.  It was Wilson's team-leading 13th goal of the season and came just 70 seconds after the Saints' third goal.  The 'Jackets would go to the locker room trailing by a goal, but they easily could have been the team with the lead.  Early in the period, Kyle Clement (Fr. Flower Mound, Texas) got a rebound in the slot and put his shot off the post, the first of two posts in the period.  Later, Matt Wiest (Jr. Enchant, Alberta) picked up a puck behind the Saints goal and attempted a wraparound.  He got out front and took the shot, which beat Kleiman and got in the net.  Unfortunately for the 'Jackets, the defender who was trying to gain possession from Wiest, leaned on the back of the net, lifting the back end of the goal off the ice.  The puck crossed the line and went under the raised back of the net, so the goal was disallowed. The 'Jackets tied the game early in the third period on a controversial goal.  Justin Faryna (Fr. Calgary, Alberta) drove the net and collided with the goaltender, taking him out of the play.  With the goaltender out, the puck popped out to the right circle and Kesler drove it home for his second of the game, tying the score at 3-3 just 3:24 into the third period.  Erlacher also assisted on the play, his second assist of the game.  Later, the 'Jackets would take their first, and only lead of the game.  Kesler took control of the puck below the Saints goal line, and fed a perfect pass into the slot to Faryna, who buried it to score his tenth goal of the season, giving the 'Jackets a 4-3 lead at 7:19.  The joy of having the lead didn't last long, however.  Just 28 seconds later, at 7:47, the 'Jackets had a break down in the neutral zone and the Saints came in on a two-on-none, with Brett Corcoran finishing off the play with his ninth goal of the season to tie the game.  Later in the period, the 'Jackets nearly regained the lead when Tyler Fletcher (Sr. Calgary, Alberta) worked his way around the defense and had a golden scoring chance, he was slashed in the process of making a move and drew the penalty, giving the 'Jackets a power play with just over a minute to play.  In the closing seconds, Jesse Junkermeier (Jr. Minnetonka, Minnesota) was called for checking from behind and assessed a five-minute major.  So not only was the power play nullified and Junkermeier done for the night, the Saints would have a power play for most of the upcoming overtime period. The overtime started with each team down a player.  When the Saints went to full strength, they had four minutes of power play time.  The Yellowjacket penalty kill came up big, allowing a few shots but no great scoring chances during the four minutes.  In the closing seconds, the 'Jackets drew another penalty, meaning the faceoff would come in the Saints' zone.  The 'Jackets won the draw, but Wilson's one-timer from the left point was blocked by a sliding Jordan Chong, and the tie game was preserved. The 'Jackets ended up going 1-6 on the power play and the Saints went 1-3.  With Junkermeier's penalties, the 'Jackets took four penalties for 19 minutes.  The Saints took six penalties for 12 minutes. Dalbec, getting his seventh straight start, finished the game with 28 saves.  Kleiman made 33 saves.  The 'Jackets outshot the Saints 37-32. Game two of the series is Saturday night, with the winner advancing to the second round.  Should the 'Jackets win, then they will travel to St. Norbert for the conference semifinals.  If the Saints win, they will play their semifinal game at home against a team to be determined.  In the event that Saturday's game ends in a tie, then there will be a 20-minute mini-game played to determine the winner of the series.  Game time on Saturday is 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live locally on KUWS 91.3 FM, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.  If you are outside the local listening area, you can tune in on the web at www.ifan.tv.  Jon Garver will have the call.