The Jets are looking for a better fate with their second visit to Nashville tonight. The last meeting on November 20 saw the Jets fall 5-3 in a game that they had a chance to control if not win however the second period had the Jets defeat themselves with poor play.
Going into the second period tied 1-1 the Predators scored two power play goals plus one more to take a 4-1 lead going into the third period. The possession was lopsided and the Preds were set to run away with game after potting another goal before the Jets came back with two of their own.
It was not a good night for Connor Hellebuyck either but he was not alone in having a bad night. Jacob Trouba had a rather indifferent evening too and the communication by the Jets in their own zone was questionable at best. Sure they came alive in the third period but what more did Nashville have to do then?
What stands out with the Jets is that they need to get on teams early and hold the play. When leading after 1 period the Jets have 10 of their 21 wins which places them tied for 3rd in the NHL by win percentage. When they trail after one period they, like most of the NHL, struggle to come back and the Predators are the same way.
It would seem important in a key Central Division match-up to get an early lead but for all teams the numbers say go do it- don't be passive. Fans should expect nothing less in this rematch. An interesting stat for this is that the Jets lead the league in first period goals with 40 while Nashville is 29th with just 22.
However this is where trouble starts and in the second period the Predators lead the league with 53 goals, 9 more than second place Tampa Bay. The Jets come in 18th with 33 in the second period.
Now simply looking at goals is not the best indicator but this is certainly telling and if the two teams can offset each other via first period goals and second period the third should be very interesting. Before looking towards the third period take a look at goals allowed by each team.
The Jets have allowed the second most in the first period to give them a +7 goal differential in the opening frame. The Predators have allowed the least amount of goals in the first period with just 15 giving the same difference +7. In the second period the Jets are a plus 4 with 33 scored vs 29 allowed and the Predators are a whopping +26 with 53 scored and only 27 allowed.
Beware the middle 20.
If this game can stay close do the numbers in the third period give either team hope?
The Jets are 9th best for scoring in the 3rd with 38 goals and have only allowed 27 for a +11 while the Predators are 24th with 29 scored and 25th with 39 allowed for a -10 difference. For Paul Maurice he may simply want to get it to the third and hope his team can play like they did against St Louis where they unload shot after shot after shot.
Goal differential is a fun way to look at what the teams have done and sometimes do but it's not some sort of exclusive predictor. It's interesting to look at, especially when it aligns with the past game between the two teams, as it does right now.
It's not that these are big games, they all are as points all have the same value whenever you earn them. That being said playing the Preds after giving up points to both St. Louis and Chicago is a bit of a big deal and keeping pace with the top two teams in the conference is important. A win tonight will help a lot considering the Jets play in Boston and Brooklyn before coming home before Christmas.
Buckle up Jets fans, if the Jets play with any semblance of how they did against St. Louis this game is bound to be rodeo tonight.