The Jets lost a game last night against the Bruins that could have been anything but what it was. Huh? Basically the two teams could have beat one another in many ways but it's likely nobody saw that game coming.
It took over six minutes before there was a shot on net by either team and in the end there are only two goals scored, both in the third period. The Bruins opened the scoring at 8:16 of the third with a shot that managed to get through traffic and past Connor Hellebuyck and soon after the Jets answers, less than a minute later, with Little feeding Ehlers in the slot before he passed it to Laine. What was interesting about this play was that Ehlers did a good job of selling the shot to get Rask moving and thinking. Once Laine had the puck most expected a blast immediately but he held on and 'pump-faked' Rask then shot it into an open net after Rask had dove and was lying on the ice.
Then the rodeo began as the teams tried for the go ahead goal while both goalies stood tall and met the challenge. The Bruins edged the Jets in possession and shot share but within those metrics were some different data.
First, the surprising possession trio of the Jets, Lowry Copp and Tanev did not do what they have been doing- dominating on their shifts. That's no easy task against the Bruins either but it appears based on the shift chart that Maurice had trouble getting them against the lines he wanted. The expected trouble spot for the Jets was going to be the Marchand, Bergeron Pastrnak line and they were. They held the Jets top line in check with relative ease but against the rest of the team the Jets seems to hold their own well but could not really gain much advantage at any point. That was the difference.
Looking ahead to tomorrow the Jets face a team that is often what they would look like in the past- The Islander have issues.
I'll leave this Tweet for your viewing pleasure:
2 of the next 3 games for the #NHLJets are against the #Islanders who are
— Troy Westwood (@TroyWestwood) December 22, 2017
2nd GF/G, 31st GA/G, 8th PP, 31st PK, and 31st in team SV% at .891#uglybackend
The Islanders can't seem to find a groove between the pipes and their special teams PK is a disaster. By comparison the Jets look like this:
GF/G 4th GA/G 9th PP 4th PK 20th Team Sv% 11th at .913
This is the kind of game that should be a feast for the Jets and if they play the way they have the last 4 games they likely will get the goals. That being said, the Islanders might be reeling a bit and looking to finish strong, and they have no problem putting the puck in the net either. It's likely that Steve Mason starts and will he have a bit of inside perspective coming from the Metropolitan Division and being familiar with the Islanders?
That seems like a logical hunch for head coach Paul Maurice to make and give Hellebuyck a day off after a solid performance last night. At this point in the season, the last game before the Christmas break, it seems like many Jets fans are putting so much stock into many things due to where the Jets sit in the division, conference and league. As each game approaches there's something to consider but more often than not now, good play seems to be the habit and not the exception.
It seems far too obvious based on history that the Jets would fall into an afternoon trap against the Islanders tomorrow. However, that's really not what they are likely to do this season and that's where many fans seem torn. They want to believe but are hesitant based on a history that does not favour their hearts.
It's time to open them wide now and give the team back something for Christmas, trust and belief. A win tomorrow would go a long way to taking the Scrooge out of Christmas for many Jets fans.