Let's be frank here, the Jets had too many men in OT when they were called for that penalty. However, that call is rarely made in such a fashion because not only were the players on the ice trying to chase up to the play they other ones were so far away from it. It was a soft call, albeit technically correct, but hard to swallow after seeing Byfuglien hauled down just moments before.
Think about that, in a foot race against Byfuglien he was pulled down, that doesn't 'just' happen. It was a stick-holding twist and pull on him and ask this, how easy does Buff every go down?
Aside from the ending and the post game comments from Paul Maurice...
Full Maurice quote when asked if OT penalty was hard to swallow: "It was horse shit so that would be hard to swallow." #NHLJets
— Ted Wyman (@Ted_Wyman) November 4, 2016
The Jets played another hit and miss game. They were down by 3 by the end of the second period and most fans on social media had begun to write them off and then it happened again.
Early in the third period on yet another Jets penalty kill, in a game where they gave up five penalties in total, Enstrom was able to get the puck and slide it past Holtby for the short-handed goal. The Jets had life.
Three minutes later Adam Lowry, who after a rather uninspired start to the season, continued his great play of late and battled in front to make it a one goal lead for the home team. The Jets battled on and with Michael Hutchinson making some big saves agains the Capitals the Jets had yet another scramble in front when Marko Dano in his first game as a Jet this season came into the slot and fired one up and over Holtby. Boom tie game.
The PK could not last in OT and Ovechkin showed why he is Laine's idol with his patented off-side canon slap shot to win the game.
Before we look forward to tonight a few things have to be noticed. The Jets could not make a line change for almost 3 minutes in OT so why start Byfuglien and Wheeler and Scheifele? The combined total of minutes for these three was over 60 before OT began. What happened was fresh legs on Washington took these guy to the woodshed and the play never ever got near Holtby until Buff was hauled down.
So tonight against the Red Wings the Jets look to regroup and attack again. What's curious is the status of both Mathieu Perreault and Joel Armia who both left the game last night and did not return. Is help on the way from the Manitoba Moose?
It would make sense that Hellebuyck gets the start and that we see a bit of line movement based on injuries. Nic Petan has been called up but Tyler Myers has now been placed on injured reserve. That's troubling as it means he will be out longer than expected. Maybe that's karma for all those fans laughing at Bogosian's recent injury?
In the end it's another chance to see what kind of 'character' (ugh!) this team has. Unfortunately that term is relevant right now because past Jets clubs would have laid over and died going into the third period down 3-0. Sadly it's true to the point that we notice it now when they don't. Is it really a product of character? No, but that's the easiest term that brings all the intangibles of a come back from 3-0 together right?
Let's see where Petan slots in and who else joins him, probably Thorburn as he is expected to be back from his family issue which was keeping him away from the team.