Headed into Thursdays game, the Winnipeg Jets were looking for every point they could get. Eric Comrie, who won each of his last 5 starts, got the go-ahead after Connor Hellebuyck played in the first of the back-to-back. The 7-3 loss to Toronto was not an easy one to watch, as the undisciplined play led to many Leafs Powerplay opportunities. Toronto, who has the leagues best Powerplay, made sure Winnipeg payed for it.

The first period started off excellent for Winnipeg, as Blake Wheeler started off the game with a goal 3:19 into the period. Zach Sanford makes a clean pass on the breakout, to find Blake Wheeler in the middle of the ice. Wheeler does a fantastic job keeping the puck and makes the zone entry, and follows that up by turning the new Leaf defender, Mark Giordano, inside out. Wheeler cuts to the inside, stumbling Giordano, and makes a nice play to beat Erik Kallgren.

On the 2-0 goal, just under 5 minutes later, it starts with another clean breakout of the Jets zone, and carrying the puck up to the Leafs end. Nikolaj Ehlers takes a shot that goes wide, but Paul Stastny picks up the loose puck and performs a wrap-around, putting it between Kallgren's skate, and the post.

From here, a lot of things went downhill. Blake Wheeler takes a tripping penalty just over 2 minutes later, and then as that penalty is expiring, Ville Heinola takes a hooking call on Jason Spezza. The Jets were lucky to come out of those penalties with the 2 goal lead still standing, but not long after, Giordano repays his stumble on the Wheeler goal, by earning a goal himself.

As Giordano puts the puck out to the net for a pass, it takes a bounce off of Logan Stanley's stick, and then Brendan Dillon's foot. Comrie could have been in a better spot to make the save, but, he wasn't expecting to have to make that save. It is hard to really place blame on anybody for that one, but, 2-1 game.

Just 1:41 into the second period, Mason Appleton takes a tripping call, and William Nylander scores a powerplay goal just 17 seconds later. This felt like a very discouraging, flip of the ice for the Jets. They had a great first period, and all goes downhill from here. Ehlers does manage to get the games next goal on a nice setup play from Morrissey and Scheifele on the powerplay.

Nylander scores his second powerplay goal of the game, following John Tavares scoring his 23rd goal of the season. All of the sudden, the Leafs have a 4-3 lead. The Jets are really paying for their special teams at this point, and throughout the rest of the night.

The Leafs would go on to score 3 more goals. A shorthanded marker for Mikheyev, an empty net goal for Matthews' 50th goal of the year, and another powerplay goal, this time scored by Liljigren.

The Jets went 1/3 on the powerplay, while the Leafs went 3/6, plus a shorthanded goal too. It is clear that special teams was the difference maker in this one. That is a key area to be able to compete at if there are thoughts of playoff success. While the Jets aren't thinking about what happens in the playoffs, more so about just making them, you have to be ready when the time comes if you do make it.

This loss, as well as Dallas getting a win, puts the Jets 3 points behind the second wild card position, held by the Stars, while the Stars still have 3 games in hand. If it wasn't for the games in hand, I would be a lot more confident that the Jets could catch up. The Jets play LA tomorrow, and then have 3 days off before taking on the Red Wings, both of which are very winnable games, and I expect Hellebuyck to start both, being so far apart.

While i am talking about it, looking at the schedule, I would expect Hellebuyck to start almost all of the games this month, besides the back half of the two back to backs the Jets play. SO I would expect Comrie to get April 11 vs Montreal after the Jets play Ottawa the day before, and to start against Tampa Bay on the 16th, after a back to back in the state of Florida. I would think Comrie gets 1 more start somewhere in the month, but if the playoff race is close, it will be interesting to see how that is handled. Mentioning those back to back games, I am not sure I have seen two back-to-back's in one week.

That is all I have for today, let me know your thoughts and questions in the comment box below, and I hope you lal have a great day.

Jacob

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