Thanks, Jets TV
I told you on Wednesday that I was happy for Drew Stafford and for Tyler Myers. Knowing both players the way that I do, and seeing the pressure cooker what that both have played in the past few seasons in Buffalo, I felt that both players were in need of a change in NHL postal code in order to reinvigorate their respective games. A change in latitude has given Stafford and Myers a change in attitude.
Stafford and Myers were wanted men around the NHL in recent since November. Their names were mentioned prominently for months in trade rumors. Something had to give. Where there was smoke, there was fire.
On Wednesday, both long time Sabres were traded to Winnipeg along with Joel Armia, Brenden Lemieux and a 2015 first round pick in exchange for Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian.
On Thursday, Stafford and Myers made their Winnipeg debuts in the 2-1 loss at Nashville. It took that one game to get the Stafford and Myers acclimated to their new Jets teammates. Both men contributes in Winnipeg's come from behind shootout win in Detroit on Hockey Night In Canada.
The change has done a lot of good for Stafford and Myers.
Stafford used his speed and puck handling skills to tear ass down the wall with a Tyler Myers pass and score this nifty game tying power play goal.
Midway through the second period, Stafford threw his backhander at Jimmy Howard and never quit on the play. He had an easy back door tap in to tie the game at 3-3. The Red Wings roared out to a 3-0 lead on the Jets only to have Strafford tie the game. Andrew Ladd and Pavel Datsyuk traded third period goals to force the game to overtime.
Stafford scored the shootout winner in the fourth round of the skills competition.
The University of North Dakota alumnus scored a goal on 5 shots, had one hit, and skated 16:31 TOI.
Myers finished the game with two assists, 4 shots, 2 hits, and 22:57 TOI.
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Stck tap, Connor McDavid for tying the Erie Otters team record for consecutive point scoring.
McDavid has now recorded at least one point in his past 18 game. He now shares the Otters team record with former Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly (1997-98) and Rob Hisey (2004-05). McDavid's next point will give him the team record.
McDavid scored two goals and added an assists in Erie's 5-4 OT loss to Owen Sound on Saturday night. The Otters trailed 3-0 and 4-1 in this game. They scored three third period goals in a span of 1:02 , two by McDavid, to tie the game at 4s and to force OT.
McDavid now has 29 goals and 54 assists for 83 points in just 33 games played.
McDavid would be over 100 points scored this season were it not for the broken bone in his hand that forced him to miss 20 games in November and December 2014.
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