It was not a bland 0-0 game heading into OT, at least if you like emotions flaring as you watch your screen. Give aways, take aways, failed chances and great saves all made for some rather entertaining if not heart-stopping hockey. Finally it was decided in the SO by Evander Kane and the Jets came away with a 1-0 win in MSG on Saturday night.
Jets fans were treated to a game called by Bob Cole and while I don’t recall hearing ‘Everything is happening’ from the verteran game-callers voice it appeared to be, except goals.
The one thing, if you can use a two-game sample size that the Jets seem to be doing is matching some of the play the opposition gives them. They trapped in New Jersey and they went end to end in NY committing as many gaffes and plays as the Rangers did. That didn’t matter as Ondrej Pavelec resurrected a kind of game most Jets fans have not seen since the 2011-12 inaugural season. The kind of athleticism that helped convice the ownership and GM that he was worth committing to for five years.
In this case they look like geniuses but that has hardly been the history for Pavelec since that deal was signed. Last night seemed to be an extension of the solid effort he put in New Jersey but problems till exist- the Jets can’t score. The irony last night is that the player, Evander Kane, so many are expecting to score got the game winner but in a scoreless game via the shootout. No goals for you.
This morning Gary Lawless put out the question to be discussed on TSN 1290 of who is the Jets best player to date? I offered up a response of perhaps Pavelec.
However, it’s worth considering some others and here are the nominees after the first 11 games. Pavelec Perreault Little Byfuglien Ladd
Don’t let the eye test fool you. While you may have screamed at your TV with enough noise to wake the neighbourhood when Enstrom passed in the slot against New Jersey he has been very good with 8 assists so far and faces the toughest competition of the entire Jets defense.
Bryan Little faces the toughest opposition night in and out, has had different wingers due to the line blender and injuries yet still leads the team in points and in Fenwick close situation is in top 5 at the team, closer to 60% than 50%. However so are Ladd, Perreault and Byfuglien in terms of possession numbers in the same Fenwick situations. While Ladd and Buff have taken some heat for production they are driving play as is Perreault, even with Thorburn as a line mate.
Then there is Pavelec, two games facing a total of 66 shots and giving up only one goal. In fact his save percentage for the season now stands at .921 right where the best goalies need to be. Is it sustainable? That’s the next question and only time will tell. The recent success does not wipe out some other struggles where in the first 9 games 4 of those games saw Pavelec give up 14 goals in total. The simple truth may be again that over time the average comes out and when he’s hot he’s hot, but when cold…watch out.
Regardless he’s earned his pay cheques and that’s all any Jets fan can ask right now. Will he keep earning them is another question too just like if the Jets continue to shoot 6.08%.
So who is the Jets best player to date?