There's no double standard in this space. The Jets looked almost identical to the Ottawa Senators of Sunday night. In fact it's almost like the team acquired whatever malaise is currently affecting the Senators.
The Jets may have won the possession battle but that has more to do with score effects in the third period but it's the first period, where they surrendered two goals that did them in. The Jets could not contain the Red Wings, did not match their speed and tenaciousness, nor did they play an organized game.
Furthermore the coaching staff did not seem to provide some guidance and structure to counter how the Wings isolated the Jets attack through the neutral zone. It was tough sledding out there for the visitors but deservedly so, they were unprepared.
While down 2-0 they had chances to tie the game after Patrik Laine recorded his 14th goal while on the power play but Jimmy Howard, the posts and luck had the Jets missing more than scoring. That happens, sometimes you score sometimes you send the puck a foot over the net or to the side of it.
Tyler Myers was the Twitter whipping boy last night and deservedly so after two puck over the glass penalties both of which were examples of careless play. To be fair Myers took a couple of penalties but he was not the only careless Jets player, he just stood out more. Myers also exhibited a trait that is becoming far to frequent and detrimental to the team- lack of vision and passing.
By this writer's count Myers had three clear attempts at a breakout and rather than making a crisp pass after acquiring the puck he tried to skate it up the ice and all three times he either could not get out and subsequently turned the puck over or dumped it.
Timing is everything, and Myers did not have it last night and that was due to how the Wings pressured him. Hopeful he learns from it, the coaches explain the problem too him and he improves but more of that kind of play will not gain him any favour.
The goal that was reviewed for a high stick and then goalie interference was a strange one. Morrissey did not drive Nyqvist into Hellebuyck but did he force him to take that route?
In this frame you can see Morrissey and Nyqvist down low to the right of Hellebuyck who is reading the play as the puck comes across the blue line to Ericsson.
Now you can see that Hellebuyck has established his position at the top of the crease and reading the potential shot from the point. Now Nyqvist has cut to the left and turning toward the crease and Morrissey is right beside him about to follow him in.
Now Nyquist wants to get to the front of the net but he is also behind Hellebuyck and his turn is to come up but Morrissey has pushed/edged him far back trying to take away that lane to the front.
This is where it gets murky. Nyquist does not keep going to the front and the question becomes is he impeded by Morrissey so that he goes into Hellebuyck? The issue I have with that reasoning is if that's the determining factor what is a defensemen supposed to do, roll out a red carpet to the front of the net? Nyquist let's up as he can see he likely will make a collision with Hellebuyck and so does Morrissey, but momentum.
Here it's clear that there is no reverse course and the puck is now within the three of them and Hellebuyck is beaten because the puck has gone past his out-stretched glove. He's not yet toppled over nor is he affected in the glove hand. It's safe to say that this was probably too close to call and that what happened after was after Hellebuyck had no chance to stop the puck.
The issue that Jets fans have with this play is with consistency of the rule and interpretation of it...again. There are goalies who get a love tap and goals are waved off and then there's this. If I were the NHL I would use this a text book example of how to make the call no impediment to stop the puck but a bulldozer after. Seems fair to me after further examination.
That goal was not the cause of fate for the Jets last night- their play was. One change this season from seasons before is the Jets have shown a resiliency to bounce back and not get mired in losses. They get that chance tomorrow agains the Panthers in Sunrise Florida.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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