The challenge that everyone had after the 5-3 loss to the Penguins was trying to make sense of why it happened and what does it mean? That approach to looking at the game is a marked change from what has occurred in the past with Jets fans and observers: progress.
What seems to be the biggest concern is this; was it a blip or the beginning of a trend? All this after the Jets went 5-1-1 over 7 games in 11 days seems a bit overblown but that's where Jets fans are. They are starting to believe.
The collective in Winnipeg is starting to believe that this team is not going to do what it has done in the past and wilt away down the stretch. They feel the Jets are closer to the post season than they ever have been before since the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg thus are reducing the negative thoughts.
Alas though, not all negative thoughts
You could not find a series of tweets, or blogs, or articles without some mention of Ondrej Pavelec, his Tuesday performance and what should happen going forward with starting goalie. From fan sentiment it appears it's Hutch's job to lose, or at least it should be but where does Maurice lie on this issue?
It's hard to say as he has quietly stick handled this situation well since the beginning of the season but now after 48 games and the stretch coming is there enough evidence to make some hard decisions?
Pavelec has allowed for 4 goals or more 9 times.
The Jets record in those games 0-6-3
Pavelec has allowed 3 or more goals 16 times
The Jets record in those games 2-8-5 with one ND
Pavelec's save % for all his games played or appeared in goes like this:
16 games above his current average save % of .911 with all but 2 being above .920 2 games above .900 and below average of .911 13 games below .900
Pavelec is not average, he's either hot or cold there is no middle ground and right now it appears the coach is trying to figure out when he is hot or going to get hot. Why else would he start him in Pittsburgh after the break unless he believed the rotation would bring him back to play Dallas on Saturday. The last game those two teams played Pavelec put on a clinic of sorts and won the game for his team.
With 34 games left in the season how much longer does Paul Maurice wait to anoint a number one goalie and ride with him to the finish line?
That very question has been raised in many media and no one really knows the answer. It is a mystery as to how Maurice arrives at his rotation decisions and it will remain one until the number one designation happens for the stretch.
The third line of Kane Lowry and Thorburn is receiving some attention and praise after their big night versus the Penguins- one of the few bright spots in that game. Maurice commented on it today after the morning skate and in typical Winnipeg fashion there were mountains of glory being made out of molehills of good. Does anyone really believe that those three are a sustainable solution to the depth issue the Jets have?
I would hope not and the Thorburn promotion and bump in play really is similar to when a team fires it's coach and everyone plays better in the short term. While Kane is a known quantity and Lowry is just beginning to be understood, is there anything else left for Thorburn to prove that anyone does not already know?
Thorburn has had 2nd line time in the past under 'unique' circumstances. He's played third line time and is right where he should be on the 4th line. For a player who usually averages 8 minutes a night as part of the 4th line collective how can he magically be better and trusted for the 3rd line?
Is anyone promoting this combination as a viable 3rd line really considering history?
Chris Thorburn's previous 5 seasons of games played and points per game and points per 60 mins played
55- .20/g 1.37/60 42- .095/g .95/60 48- .152/g .97/60 82- .231/g 1.92/60 76- .171/g 1.03
His current pace this season is .145/g and 1.32/60- Nothing special nor interesting in there yet there he is again, getting another shot. Don't blame Thorburn it's not his problem or issue but consider this...
If your team is this close to their first playoff appearance in a decade is now the time to take a look at improving this depth? That answer may be known as Chevy was one of 15 scouts and such at the Devils-Leafs game last night.
The question then becomes who? Obvious names from the Leafs are Winnik, and Santorelli but rumours have suggested something bigger in the past but I don't see it at this point. What about the Devils? Would Ryder or Havlat or Gionta be a possible fit to shore up the right wing on the 3rd line? Certainly there is no chance of Jagr but one can dream can't they?
The rumour mill is going to heat up...huge and this time for the right reasons the Jets are going to be in the thick of it, especially now that Chevy is being seen around the league. Tonight though it's the Flyers and getting back on track to the win column. The team still has to worry about the games it has to play and in theory this is a game the Jets should come away from with at least a point. If it's a similar effort then we'll have some talking points of a harsher kind tomorrow.