The game against the Blues was a win, but before Jets fans erupt in jubilation over Laine's 5 goals the team could have just as easily lost the game. Laurent Brossoit was not his usual dependable and spectacular self but he got the job done. Sure score effects came into the game but there was some sloppy play too and there was no way the Jets should have given up 4 goals with the way they shelled the Blues.
It was L4INE and then it became bigger. In fact it was so big that Chris Haley of Winnipeg won $1,000,000 due to Laine scoring 5 goals in a game. Congrats Chris enjoy that 50k a year for 20 years.
Laine though is going to be counting $50k like its pocket change if he keeps this pace up. In one game he took over the NHL goal scoring lead with 19 goals. Before the game on Monday vs the Canucks Laine had 8 goals. In that span he shot 52% in all situations and 72.7% in 5 vs 5. To top it off not only did Laine have 5 goals his line, with Little and Connor had 13 points as they each had 4 assists.
Laine's shot is a cheat code. It's a deceptive weapon that leaves goalies damaged and fans startled. He does things with the puck at such a speed it's impossible to defend against if you are a goalie and this past week as solidified what is becoming a legend.
What Laine has done since the Global Series in Finland is not so much erupt as it is adjust and recalibrate to how teams are playing him. Where there was no space he's finding it. When he did not seem to have the flow of the game go with him he's now a part of it in almost all areas of the ice. The goals have come as the more engaged he has become.
After the game on Friday against the Wild Laine was frustrated, sure he had scored but the team had lost and he took it hard, destroying one of his sticks on the bench boards. It's well known that Laine cares and is hardest on himself but now he's expressing a bigger emotion and perhaps a bigger drive. It showed tonight as he five goals and a natural hat trick as well.
If Laine could keep this pace up, and that won't happen, he'd be on pace for 70 goals this season. A week ago many were thinking that hitting 30 was in question. That seems like a distant memory now as Laine is closer to 30 goals than he is to the 8 he had on Sunday.
To put things in perspective see below:
Players to score 11+ goals through four straight team GP:
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 25, 2018
Joe Malone (7x)
Newsy Lalonde (4x)
Mario Lemieux (2x)
Cy Denneny
Babe Dye
Wayne Gretzky
Rick Tocchet
Alexander Mogilny@PatrikLaine29#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/U5tz2vJUtU
Five-goal games before age 21, NHL history:
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 25, 2018
Don Murdoch on Oct. 12, 1976 (19 years, 353 days)
Wayne Gretzky on Feb. 18, 1981 (20 years, 23 days)@PatrikLaine29 on Nov. 24, 2018 (20 years, 219 days)
Wayne Gretzky on Dec. 30, 1981 (20 years, 338 days)#NHLStats pic.twitter.com/3LgK8NkJEG
Laine is now 1 goal away from hitting 100 in his career and he has played 177 games. To put this in perspective he has 55 games left before his 21st birthday. If Laine can score 25 goals in that time and it's possibly more he would have 124 in 232 games. On the list of players to have scored 100 goals by their 21st birthday only three have done it since 2000.
Stamkos had 179 goals in 329 games Crosby with 132 in 290 games Kovalchuk with 108 in 227 games
Certainly Laine can surpass the former Thrasher soon and has a chance at surpassing Crosby. Regardless of where he finishes it is a reminder that he is in very elite company and truly and elite talent, one that seemingly is finding ways to get better.
There was more to that game than Laine's five goals but no one will think about Tanev or Wheeler's but they might talk about Lemieux's. Why? Simply for the reason as to why he was on the ice after taking a dumb late game penalty in the offensive zone. With Copp out Lemieux was called but after his dumb penalty how much patience will Paul Maurice have especially if he has Marko Dano back again? That's not going to happen that quick.
Back home to face Crosby and despite going 2-2 on the road trip the Jet sit 7th in the West 2 points back of the Wild and Colorado, just another reminder of how tight the Central is.