There were some signs last night that the intensity that seemed to be in ebb and flow during the game against Nashville was in the same state of flux. The Jets tried to get a read on the Wings and push some play but again, like times against Nashville and against the LA Kings they were hemmed in and having trouble getting the puck out of their zone.
The Red Wings put two players deep on the forecheck and it took the Jets some time to figure out and adjust. Kronwall opened the scoring of the game after Matt Hendricks took a rather suspect slashing penalty and that seemed to be the TSN turning point for the Jets.
Less than a minute later Patrik Laine entered beast mode to tie the game and 26 seconds after Ben Chiarot ripped one past Howard and the game had changed. The Jets had basically shifted a rather suspect start and completely changed the flow of the game. That continued into the second period when Dustin Byfuglien scored a great goal after a long extended shift in the Wings zone.
This goal/play was interesting as it came off an expiring Wings penalty and at the far end of the ice from their bench. The Jets were cycling the puck well and changing on the fly as Detroit, tired and falling behind the play, chased them. Byfuglien had been very vocal for the shift and was clearly directing traffic through it and as the puck moved around he switched over to his off side and then swooped down low before Morrissey made a on point laser-focussed pass to the big man and boom it went right past Howard.
The Wings never went away though and that was the part that troubled many people in the building and on social media. Certainly the Jets did enough to put them away other than score more but the intensity and focus waned. Laine scored his second goal of the night and 33rd goal of the season on a bullet wrist shot that no goalie would have saved. However in the third period he was part of a shift that resembled the keystone cops as before the goal was scored he was sitting behind Hellebuyck in the net!
The Jets held on for the win, won the possession battle but it was a win not without warts.
The Good
Morrissey, Laine, Buff, Hellebuyck, Ehlers and Armia
Morrissey and Laine need know further explanation for their play but it's worth noting that Laine had a very good game along the wall and moving the puck. Hellebucyk made saves to bail his team out and did not allow the 'soft ones' that seemed to plague him on Tuesday. Ehlers was effective and had 10 shots and Armia had another solid game where he was so effective Maurice had him on the ice while the Wings had an extra man out.
The Bad
Wheeler, Connor, Morrow, and Hendricks
Wheeler had a tough night not seeing the plays well and not reading the opposition. Stopped his point streak but everyone gets a at some point and not his usual game but that happens. Connor missed some grade A chances but again he seems to get roasted along the boards and while he did some good he could have been a lot better. Morrow was not so much bad as he was again underwhelming at times but that will happen given this is a new team and he's thrown into the fire. Hendricks took a dumb penalty and was again behind the play a fair bit but he gets some credit for matching the physical play of the Wings when they brought it.
The Ugly
Scheifele and Myers
After a two goal outburst on Tuesday Scheifele had an off night like the captain. His was far more noticeable as he was off on passes, reads and trying to fly the zone too quickly. These are the little things that will cost the team in a seven game series and Maurice needs to emphasize that. Myers assists on Laine's first goal but that was the limit of his positive contributions. He again fought the puck, had little vision on the PP when he had much of the control at the point and made some very questionable passes, when he did pass. Let's say that's not his strong suit and while he looks for offence he's sacrificing the smart defensive plays that should be automatic.
Things will get interesting as a long break at home with one interruption come to an end as the Jets embark on a 6 game road trip staring in Carolina tomorrow. This is not an easy trip either as everyone of these teams is in playoff position of fighting to maintain it or fighting to get in. To top it off the trip finishes with a back-to-back against Washington and then Nashville.
One game at a time though and that's the Hurricanes on Sunday.