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Jets Double Up Kings in Wheeler's 700th as a Jet |
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The Set Up
Well, well, wello, Dylan DeMelo. What do we have here? A 26-year old UFA defensive defenseman with a 53% Corsi this year, while rocking a 49% for his career. If he’s as good as some are saying, I like this trade. It appears to be exactly what the Jets need and for the right price. On top of all that, Chevy has alluded to additional acquisitions, perhaps in the form of a hockey deal, coming our way before the trade deadline.
On the Kings’ front, they had lost their top goal scorer just before the game began. With Tyler Toffoli shipped off to Vancouver for Tim Schaller, Tyler Madden, and 2nd rounder, (4th rounder too, if he signs) the Kings continued to clear the deck and add to their impressive group of prospects.
Everyone is saying the Kings made out well, and they did. Madden will play in the NHL, and a second is a wonderful ticket to possess. But I like the acquisition equally for Vancouver. It’s about time hockey was relevant in the West again, and Toffoli can help teams be that.
1st Period
Andrew Copp just about kicked things off with a redirect from Scheifele. Calvin Petersen, starting his third game this season and 14th ever, was in a good position and made the stop.
The Kings countered, when Ryan’s rebound was chipped by Brown up and over Hellebuyck’s shoulder.
And, 35 seconds in the Jets were down.
It was rather enjoyable listening to Kevin Sawyer debate whether or not to call the new-look third the 2015 line because it wasn’t inclusive of the entire class. I guess the sensitivity training after his storytelling gone sour really worked. Good thing too, considering how damn good of a color guy he is. And, it was his birthday. Happy birthday, Kevin.
It was also enjoyable to learn that the Jets had gone to the trouble of finding a translator for Chibisov to watch the game. Hey, it’s these kinds of thoughtful things that get guys like Kyle Connor signing for seven years. Because little things are big things, guys.
The Jets best chance in the first would be Roslovic’s wrap around which Petersen came across and got a toe on. Almost giving up an ugly one late, Poolman whiffed on a puck in his zone, giving Brown the chance to set up Amadio for a blast in the slot. Connor Hellebuyck though, so.
2nd Period
He’d pick up in the second where he left off in the first, stopping the Kings on a 2 on 1. It took awhile, but seven minutes into the second, Roslovic spun around and smacked at a rebound, sending it just wide. Then Petersen made a massive save of Ehlers in front, followed by Scheifele’s attempt to bang it home. It wouldn’t go.
On a powerplay, the Kings thought they had a goal, when after the whistle, Jeff Carter flicked a puck off Helle’s pad and into the net. It was a fairly quick decision since the decision had already been blown… into a whistle.
Escaping on a 3 on 1, Scheifele decided to take the shot and caught Petersen’s pad low glove side. How long is his goal crazy drought going to last? It’s really getting weird.
Finally, the Jets would break through, when Roslovic sent a sneaky pass to Laine, who feathered one to Harkins for the one-timer.
The kid’s got two NHL goals, and they’re both beauties. Not bad.
Then Appleton pushed a puck up to Roslovic, who carried it to the Kings’ net, hooking it back to Apple at the last second for him to wire home. Wow!
We all know Roslovic is going to break out big time at some point, right? Is that now?
Next, Scheifele poked a puck away from Lewis, and after taking it back from Ehlers, raced 200 feet down the ice, and found Wheeler cross-ice for the tap-in. It was a pretty good time, and fun way for Wheels to celebrate his 700th game as a Jet.
3rd Period
The Kings started the third getting chance after chance until finally Frk found one careening off the end boards as he circled the net. Alright, no biggie.
Excitement would swell mightily seeing a Jet break in alone until it was realized that player was Kulikov. Still, his attempt was not embarrassing, and no one got hurt.
Ehlers would get in on the fun, after Scheifele deftly tipped the puck past the pinching Kings’ defender creating a 2 on 1 and finding him to finish.
The Kings came back to within one when Dustin Brown deflected a shot from the point past Hellebuyck.
Thankfully, pulling Petersen and going for broke didn’t work out too well for the Kings. Patrik Laine did the breaking.
And then just for the hell of it, Wheeler went and deflected a Pionk shot and really rubbed it in.
The Wrap
Well, that was a pretty fun game. The shots remained almost identical throughout, but the Jets seemed to get the better chances off the rush. Certainly, some of the opportunities during their second period onslaught were due to the Kings being behind and needing to take chances. But when have the Kings ever been that bad at clogging up the middle of the ice?
Do the Jets look refreshed or what? And now just a single point out of a playoff spot with a recruit on the way, things are looking a hell of a lot better than they did coming out of the break. It’s still going to be a battle right to bloody end, but these Jets just might be able to weather it.
They’ll join up with their new guy in Ottawa on Thursday. Game’s at 6:30 PM.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
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