There's probably now way to capture the spirit of last night's loss against the Blues than this quote from Jacob Trouba courtesy of Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun.
#NHLJets D Jacob Trouba on Saturday's 2-0 defeat: pic.twitter.com/PAaFcM7sFh
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) December 17, 2017
The Jets did almost everything right last night, they basically played a perfect game against the number 2 team in the league. The differentiating factor was Carter Hutton did play a perfect game.
Steve Mason, making his return between the pipes, was excellent too. He was not called upon much but bailed out his team twice when communication behind the net broke down. He took on Tarasenko on a break away and was victorious but he could not hold off two chances on the power play for the home team.
If you watched that game you saw a team, the Jets, as possessed and driven as they have been all season. Gone were the sleepy mistakes and from the Chicago game on Thursday night. The Jets had some trouble through the neutral zone but when they moved into the offensive zone they often had control and excellent puck movement. This was not a game to fret about despite the result and one could also say that for two games in a row the Jets were bested by a goalie.
If you remember Corey Crawford was also spectacular in Winnipeg.
The challenge comes with tonight's game against the Blues in Winnipeg. Is this team going to come back and play like it did last night or will it wilt after a full out effort without success and then a travel night to play today? The same question could be said of the Blues but as the victor they are certainly a bit more content and ready to play with their tails up.
Once change that happened last night was moving Perreault and Armia up the roster to play with Lowry. There's some logic to this as Lowry has been a stalwart player defensively on the third line with Copp and Tanev, the offence is not being generated and that is one thing Perreault has given the fourth line.
To be critical of head coach Paul Maurice, and there were plenty of critics on social media last night, if offence is being needed what makes Tanev, Copp, Armia, and Lowry along with Hendricks a group that can't be disrupted? At some point does Marko Dano and his offensive ability not deserve a shot?
Hendricks has been better than most would have expected but at age 36 and the speed of the game as it is could Dano not slot in for a game here and there giving the veteran some rest but also adding some diversity to the line up? Right now the heaving lifting falls on Perreault and more so if he has to be used on the PP and then added to the 3rd line.
Perreault Lowry Tanev Copp, Dano Armia
This combination seems like it could have merit to at least try it and not against a team you 'expect to beat' but in a situation like tonight where after a heated and fast game a different variable needs to be added.
The one change that is certain though is Connor Hellebuyck will start. It should be an exciting rematch and hopefully the home ice advantage gives the Jets the boost to beat the Blues and solve the Carter Hutton puzzle.