Is there a conundrum for head coach Paul Maurice now that both his goalies had strong outings in back-to-back games while the skaters in front took about 3 periods off collectively? There might be heading into the game on Friday against Boston with three regulars out in Perreault, Enstrom and a soon to be Lowry. The latter of course has a hearing with NHL Player Safety today and will probably receive at least one game for his hit on Patrick Kaleta.
If you didn't see this hit in the 2-1 win over Buffalo last night it was a full on boarding by Lowry who took 5 and a game for it. The best part of the hit though was this tweet by one of the best Twitter follows in Winnipeg
North End Rick
BREAKING - The NHL Department of Player Safety will have a phone hearing with Jets F Adam Lowry tomorrow to give him a slow #Wiserhood clap. (https://twitter.com/NorthEndRick/status/537790535168049153?s=17)
Whether or not Kaleta deserves a shot like that is a whole other argument but the rookie forward for Winnipeg deserves something for that hit.
That being said what happens on Friday? Do either Enstrom or Perreault return in time or will we see a call up from St. John's today to boost the roster? Galiardi could return as he was not claimed on waivers yesterday but if they opened a spot why not fill it with some one from the farm?
What Chevy and Maurice decide in the short term may be telling about future actions.
However who do you start Pav or Hutch?
If I'm Maurice I go with Hutch. He played an amazing game against Boston late last season when all was lost for the Jets in terms of post season eligibility. Furthermore he is stable as a player and against the Bruins stability is hard to find with the way they play.
If Hutchinson starts and loses or gets the hook part way through is there a downside to that scenario? Probably not as he is still the back up who has to compete and earn his way to more starts and ice time. It won't destroy his confidence and it will give the coach and fans some reason to settle down on him and let him grow. I'm not sure the same can be said if Pavelec starts.
Should the number one goalie start and not win what happens next? The fall out from fans and media could be more than enough to start the first 'goalie controversy' of the season. If that does not happen the amount of second guessing becomes a burden too,or does it?
Had Maurice started Pavelec against Columbus maybe this scenario never happens. If the results and games play out the same way with Pavelec against Columbus and Hutchinson last night against Buffalo, it's far easier for Maurice to say 'we're going with Pav after two days rest'. Which is historically the optimal time to play him. If he loses or is pulled, is the criticism because he played on Wednesday, probably not. But before that even happens it's easier to say that it was simply a rotation 'thing' and after losing to both Detroit and St. Louis did Pavelec not deserve some faith from his coach to bounce back against Columbus? Instead Maurice went to Hutch and once again shortened the time between his starts.
While the coach has not been overly critical of his team's defensive play in recent games he also has not been critical of his number one goalie which is curious given how he has linked the two together. While the answer to who starts tomorrow may not be known it might be safe to suggest the Maurice is far more open to change than he presents. If that change becomes full blown depends on what happens in Boston by who starts and/or who finishes the game.
More as it happens.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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