Jets win 5-4 in OT after Wild 3rd Period (Winnipeg)

Winnipeg

Jets win 5-4 in OT after Wild 3rd Period

By Peter Tessier

Jan 15, 2016 • 6:27 am

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It was 4-1.

It was 4-1.

That's what many Jets fans will be saying today and did last night as the home team squandered a 3 goal lead with 11 minutes to go in the third period. Before that happened it looked like the same old apathetic group would show up as the Preds scored at the :59 second mark of the first period to open the game. The anxiousness amongst the fans was visible and obvious.

The Jet however persevered and pushed back although it took a while to get going. Even with 2 power plays in the first period they were still down in shots 5-3 by the 10 minute mark. It wasn't until the second that Byfuglein tied the game up and then on the PP Bryan Little gave the Jets a 2-1 lead. Later Byfuglien extended that lead on a solo effort to make it 3-1.

At just under 6 minutes into the third period Andrew Ladd made a slick tip pass to spring Nik Ehlers on a short break away who beat Rinne over the blocker side for his 8th of the season and 4-1 lead.

Then it happened.

Before we get to that it should be noted that Rinne was fighting the puck something fierce as his rebound control was spotty and his his tracking was usually inconsistent. What should also be noted is that this game was chippy from the start with Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi leading the way. Even Mark Stuart and Paul Guastad had brief scrap when tempers flared.

There are 15 penalties in the game between the two teams but it's the ones in the third period that were bizarre and some one from the NHL should be looking into fan favourite Tim Peel and his crew.

What transpired in the third was nothing short of bizarre and it went both ways. Press fans should be just as upset as Jets fans with what went down. If you were there it was even more bizarre and yes the 'refs you suck' chants came but they were deserved as they did suck. They sucked the life right out of a game and made it an officials show.

I could rant about things a lot but look at this and ask who this call got a boarding penalty for 2 mins when Myers got 5 and a 10 minute misconduct?

This is why fans get upset with officials not because they called a penalty it's that the judgement of punishment are so out of whack from game to game and crew to crew.

That there was not even the beginning of what was to come.

Here was the first call that had Armia take the first embellishment call

Then Neal took one

Then Johansen took a rare one at the face-off dot

What transpired after that was 3 on 3 hockey with just under 3 minutes left in the game. No, seriously has Wheeler had taken a very soft hooking call. Remember it's Tim Peel on the ice.

So what did Paul Maurice do? He put out Myers Stuart and Little. I guess on out of three isn't bad but really that's your three? In fact, with Rinne pulled, the defeated the man advantage but Johansen got his revenge with about 18 seconds left when he fed Neal who sniped one past Hellebuyck to tie the game. Before that Johansen and Nystrom had scored two goals just under 3 minutes apart before the penalty rodeo happened.

Aside from the officiating gong show there was one other major even that preceded the Nashville come back and that was in injury to Dustin Byfgulien.

What happened after was that the Jets defence was a circus clown show of effectiveness when it came to moving the puck. Big Buff was having a monster game and his team mates were trying to feed him the puck to get the hat trick. He was looking dangerous all around and then with him gone with a suspected shoulder/arm injury the wheels came off and fast.

While it's not indicative of everything with the Jets his loss at that juncture of the game provides a snap shot into his role and value to this team. If he is traded soon, how does the team fill that hole? Surely a better group effort from all players is required regardless but there is not talent ready or available to Winnipeg that can do what Buff does. Many fans last night saw the importance of Big Buff first hand in a real situation where he was there and then not and what happened.

In the end it was the man of emotion Blake Wheeler backing up his statements from Wednesday as he scored the OT winner with a patient wicked wrist shot. Earlier that day many fans on social media had been advocating taking the C from Ladd's chest and putting it on Wheelers. While that goal and his hustle for 60+ minutes may make him the visible leader to many Ladd did quietly have 3 assists last night so let's not jump on the captain too quickly.

Tonight the Jets are in Minnesota and surely the Wild are just waiting to feast on the Jets after the rough affair last night. We will get an update of Buff at 11:30 CST and it's believed he did travel with he team so the injury could not be too serious, or could it. We'll find out soon.

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