Peter Tessier: The Road Ahead: Jets Version The Jets open up a 4 game road trip in Nashville tonight.

Yawn again. Same old topic over and over.

Why not at least put a fresh angle on it and lets see what the Jets stats look like after Hendricks and Connor started playing and Dano and Petan were demoted.? Use the last 12 games . The lineup has essentially been the same winning lineup during that period. I would think that we would be at the same stats levels as those other top 6 teams.

I’m still deeply concerned with our PK. Hellebuyck has been Vezina level since his first game this season, but we are the worst penalty killing team in the league by a mile for scoring chances and shots against. Hellebuyck is the real deal, but what happens when/if he stops throwing up .940 games? We have to address the defensive play, especially on the PK, or this team could be in trouble. You can’t rely on insane goaltending and 2 lines outscoring your mistakes all year. If you won’t play Dano, trade him for something. He’ll get claimed on waivers 31 times, and his trade value is balls with him in the press box. This is poor asset management.

Don't forget who called the Jets finishing first in the Central, way back in July!

It was me, THE ULTIMATE JET!!!

This in spite of them having bad coaching. Paul Maurice is the Dwayne Casey of the NHL.

Yawn again. Same old topic over and over.

Why not at least put a fresh angle on it and lets see what the Jets stats look like after Hendricks and Connor started playing and Dano and Petan were demoted.? Use the last 12 games . The lineup has essentially been the same winning lineup during that period. I would think that we would be at the same stats levels as those other top 6 teams.
- jetsnation

I’m not saying they aren’t doing well. I am trying to give some limited historical reference. I thought Sat was best game they played this season. I’m hoping they can do that more and I think this trip could give a huge opportunity to prove they are developing into a complete force.

I’m not saying they aren’t doing well. I am trying to give some limited historical reference. I thought Sat was best game they played this season. I’m hoping they can do that more and I think this trip could give a huge opportunity to prove they are developing into a complete force.
- Peter.Tessier

I'd actually be interested in seeing those more recent stats. Stats which represent our current lineup. I'm not that interested in stats which cover the time period where Maurice was still experimenting with the likes of Dano, Chariot , Poolman, and Petan and with the right line combos. I know Perreault was injured in all but two of the last 10 but his prescience only makes the team stronger now vs Matthais.

I’m still deeply concerned with our PK. Hellebuyck has been Vezina level since his first game this season, but we are the worst penalty killing team in the league by a mile for scoring chances and shots against. Hellebuyck is the real deal, but what happens when/if he stops throwing up .940 games? We have to address the defensive play, especially on the PK, or this team could be in trouble. You can’t rely on insane goaltending and 2 lines outscoring your mistakes all year.
- Rexypoo

Ugh

Jets played awesome v Devils on the weekend ... Jets sh_t the bed, 2nd period last night, pretty bad ... so post an "L"
.
Can't win them all - their 3rd period was a step in the right direction ... my sights are set on how they play tomorrow night v LA

Jets played awesome v Devils on the weekend ... Jets sh_t the bed, 2nd period last night, pretty bad ... so post an "L"
.
Can't win them all - their 3rd period was a step in the right direction ... my sights are set on how they play tomorrow night v LA
- CorydonKeith

They gave up 2 PP goals to the best PP in the league both to our #2 PK unit. . It also seemed the bounces just didn't go their way , Sheif at the blue line and (Trouba) in the corner not touching the puck with his stick and suddenly its two goals. I aslo thought that Wheeler touched the puck on the delayed penalty along the boards just before they scored. On our side the Connor and Sheif crossbars and one post and suddenly its a different game. I call this loss a game of inches. I thought the Jets in the first and third were the better team. No doubt though Nashville is a better team than their record shows.

They gave up 2 PP goals to the best PP in the league both to our #2 PK unit. . It also seemed the bounces just didn't go their way , Sheif at the blue line and (Trouba) in the corner not touching the puck with his stick and suddenly its two goals. I aslo thought that Wheeler touched the puck on the delayed penalty along the boards just before they scored. On our side the Connor and Sheif crossbars and one post and suddenly its a different game. I call this loss a game of inches. I thought the Jets in the first and third were the better team. No doubt though Nashville is a better team than their record shows.
- jetsnation

As a Preds fan, I was very impressed with the Jets. The Preds showed what they could be in the 2nd period. It was about as dominant a period as a team could play. The third period, the Jets showed what they were made of by pushing back hard. Sure the Preds were playing back a bit, but these are pretty evenly matched teams.

The biggest difference I see is depth. When healthy, the Preds have 3 lines that can score (maybe 4 if McLeod sits). And two D-pairs that can eat up 50 minutes and play in all situations. The Jets aren't quite that deep in my opinion, but they have 2 dangerous lines & 3 pretty strong D-men. A little help at the deadline, and this is a team no one wants to play in April.

As a Preds fan, I was very impressed with the Jets. The Preds showed what they could be in the 2nd period. It was about as dominant a period as a team could play. The third period, the Jets showed what they were made of by pushing back hard. Sure the Preds were playing back a bit, but these are pretty evenly matched teams.

The biggest difference I see is depth. When healthy, the Preds have 3 lines that can score (maybe 4 if McLeod sits). And two D-pairs that can eat up 50 minutes and play in all situations. The Jets aren't quite that deep in my opinion, but they have 2 dangerous lines & 3 pretty strong D-men. A little help at the deadline, and this is a team no one wants to play in April.
- holycow_75

We just lost Enstrom for 2 months, and our coach refuses to ice 4 talented lines. People should want to play us, as long as they can handle the top line.

As a Preds fan, I was very impressed with the Jets. The Preds showed what they could be in the 2nd period. It was about as dominant a period as a team could play. The third period, the Jets showed what they were made of by pushing back hard. Sure the Preds were playing back a bit, but these are pretty evenly matched teams.

The biggest difference I see is depth. When healthy, the Preds have 3 lines that can score (maybe 4 if McLeod sits). And two D-pairs that can eat up 50 minutes and play in all situations. The Jets aren't quite that deep in my opinion, but they have 2 dangerous lines & 3 pretty strong D-men. A little help at the deadline, and this is a team no one wants to play in April.
- holycow_75

Thanks for the Jets complement. Yeah , we just lost Enstrom . I had mentioned in an earlier post leading up to this road trip about the home ice advantage of line matching . While Laviolette played around with the matchups for most of the first period he eventually matched up your top line against the Schiefele line in the second which was very successful . Keep in mind though that he had no success against our bottom two lines. They were solid as they have been in the last dozen games. You can't pin the loss on them. After the second Maurice countered by putting some more scoring talent on the third line and moving Lowry up. That move worked well . In the end though thats life on the road. You can't usually get the matchups you want.

The Jets also out Corsi'd your bottom two lines by a wide margin. I believe that the Nashville bottom two lines is the only real team weakness

The addition of Hendricks to this lineup, with this group of guys, has made a major difference in the intensity and 'give a sh**' mentality of the team, which is one of the biggest issues with this group.
I am by no means a Hendricks fan, as I absolutely hated the signing, but I am seeing a different team with him in the lineup. Hockey is about more than analytics. The chemistry of the group and the accountability that they hold themselves to is very sensitive - right now the balance is really good, but can it be sustained?

The addition of Hendricks to this lineup, with this group of guys, has made a major difference in the intensity and 'give a sh**' mentality of the team, which is one of the biggest issues with this group.
I am by no means a Hendricks fan, as I absolutely hated the signing, but I am seeing a different team with him in the lineup. Hockey is about more than analytics. The chemistry of the group and the accountability that they hold themselves to is very sensitive - right now the balance is really good, but can it be sustained?
- foxbat

Its nice to see others starting to come around on Hendricks. I believe I have been a lone wolf on his merits. There was a nice feature on him between the first and second periods on TSN3 . Yes he is a valuable member of the team. Might only be a one year gig but he has taught the players so much that they will benefit for quite some time to come.

Some notes from last nights game:

1. Maurice cannot coach when his team falls behind.
2. Myers was the biggest offensive threat from the back end and for some reason in the final two minutes in the game he is sitting on the bench.
3. Ehlers, our best option for carrying the puck into the offensive zone is also sitting on the bench for the final two minutes.

I am thinking to myself, sure we are doing great, however if we had a better coach we could be doing better. Maurice reminds me of Casey in the NBA. Both have super talented teams and the teams win despite poor coaching decisions.

Was Laine playing last night ? I admittedly turned off the TV after the 2nd period, but I did not notice him in the first 2 periods.

Haven't had a long post in a while, here we go,
For jets nation, yes Hendricks has been a great addition to locker room and as long as Maurice will sit him in the third like last game, I'm ok with it. I'd prefer to see him on the wing though! His faceoffs are over rated and he's not better than Copp or Lowry at Center. Be careful when you talk about our record with him in the line up vrs out. I say this because it doesn't paint the full picture. Did you know we have a better record with your boy Perrault out of line up than in? Bet you didn't!! For the record I'm not knocking Perrault!!! He's been good

Rexy, show me kulikov advanced stats this year compared to the rest of our D, just this year. Stop living in the past. Maybe I'm wrong but this large gap you speak of I suspect isn't as wide.

I'd move Myers now!!! Even with Enstrom injury!!! Myers makes some real bone head plays but does have some nice games thrown in. I just see him as an injury waiting to happen. If teams around the league are dying for D, I'd love to pry a guy like RNH out Edmonton for Myers and a throw in. Or at least gauge his market, somebody may over pay with a real nice piece!!

Chevy has to see how close we are to being elite!!! I hope he ignores our recent record and isn't afraid to make some moves. Trade Myers for an improved forward. Trade one of Copp, Petan, Armia for a depth D!!! These two moves could push us over the top.

I'd like to try Little on the wing! I liked Copp at Center earlier this year.

I'd like to see a line of connor/Lowry/raslovic

Get Laine back with shiefele, it's more important to overall team success than Wheeler staying there.

Haven't had a long post in a while, here we go,
For jets nation, yes Hendricks has been a great addition to locker room and as long as Maurice will sit him in the third like last game, I'm ok with it. I'd prefer to see him on the wing though! His faceoffs are over rated and he's not better than Copp or Lowry at Center. Be careful when you talk about our record with him in the line up vrs out. I say this because it doesn't paint the full picture. Did you know we have a better record with your boy Perrault out of line up than in? Bet you didn't!! For the record I'm not knocking Perrault!!! He's been good

Rexy, show me kulikov advanced stats this year compared to the rest of our D, just this year. Stop living in the past. Maybe I'm wrong but this large gap you speak of I suspect isn't as wide.

I'd move Myers now!!! Even with Enstrom injury!!! Myers makes some real bone head plays but does have some nice games thrown in. I just see him as an injury waiting to happen. If teams around the league are dying for D, I'd love to pry a guy like RNH out Edmonton for Myers and a throw in. Or at least gauge his market, somebody may over pay with a real nice piece!!

Chevy has to see how close we are to being elite!!! I hope he ignores our recent record and isn't afraid to make some moves. Trade Myers for an improved forward. Trade one of Copp, Petan, Armia for a depth D!!! These two moves could push us over the top.

I'd like to try Little on the wing! I liked Copp at Center earlier this year.

I'd like to see a line of connor/Lowry/raslovic

Get Laine back with shiefele, it's more important to overall team success than Wheeler staying there.
- Ross77

Have to keep Little at center - he wins faceoffs !
Agree with Laine back with Schiefele and Wheeler with Little.

Haven't had a long post in a while, here we go,
For jets nation, yes Hendricks has been a great addition to locker room and as long as Maurice will sit him in the third like last game, I'm ok with it. I'd prefer to see him on the wing though! His faceoffs are over rated and he's not better than Copp or Lowry at Center. Be careful when you talk about our record with him in the line up vrs out. I say this because it doesn't paint the full picture. Did you know we have a better record with your boy Perrault out of line up than in? Bet you didn't!! For the record I'm not knocking Perrault!!! He's been good

Rexy, show me kulikov advanced stats this year compared to the rest of our D, just this year. Stop living in the past. Maybe I'm wrong but this large gap you speak of I suspect isn't as wide.

I'd move Myers now!!! Even with Enstrom injury!!! Myers makes some real bone head plays but does have some nice games thrown in. I just see him as an injury waiting to happen. If teams around the league are dying for D, I'd love to pry a guy like RNH out Edmonton for Myers and a throw in. Or at least gauge his market, somebody may over pay with a real nice piece!!

Chevy has to see how close we are to being elite!!! I hope he ignores our recent record and isn't afraid to make some moves. Trade Myers for an improved forward. Trade one of Copp, Petan, Armia for a depth D!!! These two moves could push us over the top.

I'd like to try Little on the wing! I liked Copp at Center earlier this year.

I'd like to see a line of connor/Lowry/raslovic

Get Laine back with shiefele, it's more important to overall team success than Wheeler staying there.
- Ross77

I agree that there needs to be a shuffle to get Laine out fo his funk. The opposition has a simple formula when defending the second line. While Ehlers is dancing all over the place on the outside of the O-zone they just need to shadow Laine. He is rarely free to take a pass. That can be rectified. Put the speedy Wheeler on that line and suddenly you have two creative speedsters to contend with as well as watch Little. Meanwhile Sheif and Connor can hopefully resurrect Laine . It makes sense logically but we have not seen it tried yet.

....or just shift Perreault up to second line and Little down and give it a go.

I agree that there needs to be a shuffle to get Laine out fo his funk. The opposition has a simple formula when defending the second line. While Ehlers is dancing all over the place on the outside of the O-zone they just need to shadow Laine. He is rarely free to take a pass. That can be rectified. Put the speedy Wheeler on that line and suddenly you have two creative speedsters to contend with as well as watch Little. Meanwhile Sheif and Connor can hopefully resurrect Laine . It makes sense logically but we have not seen it tried yet.

....or just shift Perreault up to second line and Little down and give it a go.
- jetsnation

Can't split up Armia and Perreault. Looks like Armia finally found some chemistry with someone on the team. I love how Armia has been playing these past few games.

We have a few problems with our forward group right now:
1: Laine and Ehlers can’t get it going with Little as their Center.
2: Little is mia.
3erreault and Armia have been too good to be separated, limiting options.
4: no secondary scoring (Perreault is all alone).
5: Roslovic is too good for the A.

My solution:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Laine
Takes the brunt of the other teams’ defence; creates infinite scoring chances for all involved
Connor-Little-Wheeler
Keeps Wheeler and Connor together; reignites Little
Perreault-Roslovic-Armia
Roslovic! Also, keeps the newest duo together, finally Armia has found a line.
Copp-Lowry-Tanev
I still hate this line. Copp is basically doing all the heavy lifting in the offensive zone. At least he and Lowry can cover Tanev in our zone, while Tanev can create chances with his speed that Lowry never will.
Matthias-Hendricks
The extras. Hopefully only Matthias draws in at any point. In this universe, Dano is traded so his development isn’t completely ruined by our idiot coach.

Thanks for the Jets complement. Yeah , we just lost Enstrom . I had mentioned in an earlier post leading up to this road trip about the home ice advantage of line matching . While Laviolette played around with the matchups for most of the first period he eventually matched up your top line against the Schiefele line in the second which was very successful . Keep in mind though that he had no success against our bottom two lines. They were solid as they have been in the last dozen games. You can't pin the loss on them. After the second Maurice countered by putting some more scoring talent on the third line and moving Lowry up. That move worked well . In the end though thats life on the road. You can't usually get the matchups you want.

The Jets also out Corsi'd your bottom two lines by a wide margin. I believe that the Nashville bottom two lines is the only real team weakness
- jetsnation

I'm sorry.. You out "corsi'd" our bottom 2 lines??
Dude.. you friggin lost!! Let go of the stats just a little.

We have a few problems with our forward group right now:
1: Laine and Ehlers can’t get it going with Little as their Center.
2: Little is mia.
3erreault and Armia have been too good to be separated, limiting options.
4: no secondary scoring (Perreault is all alone).
5: Roslovic is too good for the A.

My solution:
Ehlers-Scheifele-Laine
Takes the brunt of the other teams’ defence; creates infinite scoring chances for all involved
Connor-Little-Wheeler
Keeps Wheeler and Connor together; reignites Little
Perreault-Roslovic-Armia
Roslovic! Also, keeps the newest duo together, finally Armia has found a line.
Copp-Lowry-Tanev
I still hate this line. Copp is basically doing all the heavy lifting in the offensive zone. At least he and Lowry can cover Tanev in our zone, while Tanev can create chances with his speed that Lowry never will.
Matthias-Hendricks
The extras. Hopefully only Matthias draws in at any point. In this universe, Dano is traded so his development isn’t completely ruined by our idiot coach.
- Rexypoo

Raslovic has been playing wing on the Moose, you can't expect him now to jump up to the NHL to play Center. It would be too much D responsibility for him.

Raslovic has been playing wing on the Moose, you can't expect him now to jump up to the NHL to play Center. It would be too much D responsibility for him.
- Ross77

That’s why I put him on the 3rd line with Perreault on his wing. It’s not too much until it he shows he isn’t ready for it. You always have the option of sending him back down and moving Copp into the middle of that line.

That’s why I put him on the 3rd line with Perreault on his wing. It’s not too much until it he shows he isn’t ready for it. You always have the option of sending him back down and moving Copp into the middle of that line.
- Rexypoo

Ross is correct. Roslovic needs to stay in AHL for a while until we need him because of injuries. Maurice and the Jets do not need to start changing the whole lineup because they lost one game . We had three bad breaks that led to goals or it would have been a different result. I don't mind a line tweak but its amazing how we lose one game and everyone comes out of the closet wanting wholesale changes. If we go 0-4 on this road trip then maybe it then warrants a discussion.