It's a bad vs worse match up today at the MTS Centre as the Winnipeg Jets host the St. Louis Blues in a Central Division match that has some importance. For the Jets it's a chance to keep whittling away at the small chance to get close to the top eight for the wild card spot.
This match however is all about goaltending and not for the good reasons. The Jets malaise between the pipes is well documented but how many fans recognize that the Blues are struggling too and perhaps worse.
Take a look at the these 5 vs 5 (even strength) numbers
Wpg save percentage: .912 5th worst Still save percentage: .904 worst
Wpg scoring chance save %: .901 2nd worst Stl scoring chance save %: .911 5th worst
Wpg High danger save %: .837 3rd worst Still High danger save %: .843 5th worst
Jets fans probably need no reminder of Pavelec's historical numbers in matinee games- they make the above ones look good.
The Jets have played two more games than the Blues and sit five points behind them. The two team have a very similar goal differential on the season, St Louis -11 Winnipeg -13 as well. For all intensive purposes this match is all about who gets some semblance of adequate results between the pipes.
That's the story line here.
In other news Patrik Laine skated with the team yesterday in a non-contact yellow jersey after doing some sessions alone with various coaches and trainers. There was some speculation that he may start today but that seems far too premature based on the caution the team is taking. It also became known this week that Laine has no recollection of the hit that felled him either, reinforcing the severity of his concussion.
It's expected there will be no roster changes for the Jets today but as of now the starter is unconfirmed. When it comes to the game though the Jets do have to deal with more than hoping for bad goaltending to get a win.
The Blues are 8th in the league for driving play with scoring chances while the Jets are 7th. Both teams match well there. Where the Jets can perhaps exploit an advantage is they are the better team when it comes to the High Danger scoring chances when compared to St Louis.
Winnipeg has shooting percentage in the high danger are of 13.48% compared to the Blues at 12.14% It's not a huge difference but it is the difference between 8th and 21st in the league.
Simply put these two teams may not be as bad as their respective records present but they are being sunk by certain key areas of play. The Blues are a better team on the power play and they outclass the Jets by almost a 10% efficiency on the penalty kill. It's like a broken record for the Jets but the staying out of the box and being better on the power play could go a long way today.
The adventure begins but who knows what is going to happen with the way these two teams play in front of the net and between the pipes.