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Jets beat Jackets with #HutchWINson |
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Jet Beat Jackets via HutchWinson
Let’s not get to far ahead of ourselves over Michael Hutchinson right? That’s what some are trying to peddle as story today as the Jets enter Buffasnow for the second of back-to-back games tonight. Last night after Little opened the scoring 9 seconds into the game the Jets took a 3-1 lead into the third period and held on for dear life to get a 4-2 win. The two story lines emerging from that game are the play of Michael Hutchinson and more Jets penalties.
Here’s a story that should be discussed; after ragging on Kane to be better not many from the media complimented his 2-goal, both on the PP effort or realized he’s back on a 21 goal pace for the season. What’s taking up all the space is what to do about the Jets goaltending tandem and who starts on Friday.
If you read the piece I put out yesterday it provided some evidence to say that Hutch has basically been the most consistent thing the Jets have since they turned around there 2-5 start to the season. Well now we have the knives coming out for player success? It appears that way as it seems to be a strain for anyone to actually be happy, or at least talk, about the Jets new problem of goaltending depth. No the long critical gaze that was never placed on Pavelec is now starting to come out on Hutch.
Some are just not ready to say anything with such a short sample size. Okay, that’s fair but you also can’t keep extending it for the other goalie too, or using defense as an issue affecting his play forever as Pav did not always have this defense in front of him either. But the fact is with a new defense system in place Hutch is playing better than Pavelec.
Back to the early ‘pronouncements’ on Hutch.
Here is the first 10 games Hutch started or played in as an NHL goalie
6-2-1 record with a .939 save % and 1.66 GAA with 238 shot against and 220 shots for.
Here is the first 10 games Pavelec started or played in as an NHL goalie
5-3 (2 no decisions), record with a .900 save % and 2.57 GAA with 244 shots against and 225 shots for.
If we’re going to be so quick to diagnosis and project on Hutch should Pavelec be in the league with those numbers?
The point here is not to find more damning evidence of context on Pavelec it’s to show that Hutch is giving a very good reason to be hopeful if not outright optimism. That’s a good thing but it’s not always perceived that way, or presented as such. Even Paul Maurice knows as after the game he even said that Hutch is making the time between his starts smaller. That’s telling as the coach can’t ignore the play, nor can he ignore the results.
As I spoke of yesterday it does not matter what kind of game the team plays in front of Hutch, strong or weak possession, high shot volume or low, crazy defense or structured he plays the same. It made me say this tweet last night:
There has been nothing consistent with the Jets players other than the GM being reluctant to make trades. So far Hutch has been consistent and when he’s playing the team is benefitting. That’s all you can ask for from a goalie and now we have to see just how often he is going to be asked for that consistency. That is a good problem to have and no one should be spinning it differently.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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