Wheeler, Kane, Thorburn and Slater all scored last night. It's basically an erotic dream for any coach to have all 4 lines get on the score sheet and with 11 different players getting points. Aside from the Jets scoring, the PK looked effective as once again the Jets dared the opposition to score on them while short-handed.
Penalties for the Jets are like giving out late halloween night candy, you just hand it over without caring.
The story though was rather odd and somewhat tainted as Jackets goalie Bobrovsky was injured and immediately after the game Michael Hutchinson was asked about going to the All-star game in his place. That's got to be a tough pill to swallow for Columbus fans as they lose their own player in their own All-star game and then the Jets goalie may come in to replace him.
Say what you want about the Jets, and many are, but the results are justifying whatever means GM KEvin Cheveldayoff and coach Paul Maurice have used to get the team to 60 points after 48 games. Only 8 teams have more points as they head into the all-star break.
Is the 5 days away from the ice going to be a momentum killer? Hopefully not but there are more than a few Jets who could use a bit of R and R, Bryan Little being the first. Little is an interesting case as he gets faint praise as a true number one centre but if you take an old school look at his cost per point then his possession numbers he's startling value. One has to consider what the numbers for little would be with a true sniper on his wing, something neither Ladd or Wheeler are. That does not make the line any less important or dominant just different in it's results.
In case you cared I'll give you an update of my over/under points bet from earlier this season.
Boston- Under 112.5 Colorado-Under 96.5 Nashville- Over 76.5 Islanders- Over 81.5
Boston is on pace for 97.5 Colorado is on pace for 85.5 Nashville is on pace for 118.5 Islanders is on pace for 112.5
I'm feeling pretty good with where things sit.
The talk around the league is rather interesting as the Jets are beginning to gather some serious attention and the questions being asked are not about if the Jets make the playoffs but what they might do come the playoffs.
Does Chevy need to add some depth? Probably
Does Maurice need to keep the goalie rotation? Doubtful, he would probably go with Hutch
Can the Jets retain Frolik before trade deadline or do they risk losing him if a deal cannot be announced before then? This goes to off-season IMO and will depend on Frolik and agent Alan Walsh
The talk about Buff and Ladd extensions is far too premature. There is time and Chevy should use that time knowing that he needs their focus on the ice and not on the business.
There's been lots of grief towards Chevy for some of his deals, namely Pavelec's, and often in the space. He deserves some praise for getting Hutchinson for two years on the current deal. Imagine having to deal with resigning him this summer after the season he is putting up?
If the NHL can shut down for two weeks every four years for the Olympics and give players an all-star break for 5 days would it not make sense to allow a 7 day break every season around this time? While it stinks for fans it could do some good for players, the very thing fans want to watch.
Enjoy the break.