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Jets grab victory from jaws of defeat- Tonight Rangers.

December 2, 2018, 11:45 AM ET [47 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Oh what a predictable game that was for Winnipeg. If it were to come down to one descriptive sentence to summarize the game it would be written like this: the team with better talent manages to find win despite doing almost everything to not win the game.

Last night started off the way the game abasing Chicago ended- taking the period off and before anyone could blink the Devils and 1-0 lead and were outshooting the Jets 10-2. It took the Jets until the second period to find their legs and form and then they slowly took over the possession game by the third period. What they aren't doing is taking over the defensive side and this failure of execution keeps coming back to haunt them.

Last night Mason Appleton made his NHL debut and managed an assist on Andrew Copp's goal. The fourth line of Perreault, Roslovic and Appelton had a bump in ice time seeing 8 minutes or more each but they were torched with a goal against. This line still remains a concern for Paul Maurice and would it be surprising if general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff made a move to find some veteran help? Translated that means some one Maurice will trust.

Sami Niku had the least amount of 5v5 ice time on the team with just over 7 minutes last night. Niku also had some trouble with plays particularly in tight like he did against Chicago. Niku seems to believe he can outmaneuver the opposition along the boards and he simply does not have the foot speed or strength to do so, at least not against better NHL opposition.

One of the curious moments last night was around the tying goal where Brossoit seems to lay out in the case hoping to cover the puck rather than trying to make a save and drawing an interference penalty given all the Devils in the crease. Maurice tried to challenge the play but failed and thus it was off to OT. That's a teachable moment for Brossoit as he has to learn to see the play and become involved in the right way to create doubt.

The same story remains with the Jets, an incomplete fourth line and rather befuddled defense are getting the team into trouble while the top end talent is just good enough to keep them from plummeting. Let's not even start with the complete sixty minute effort narrative either- that alone could solve a few problems. The truth is there though and the Jets are needing some luck, extraordinary performances, their top end talent to get them wins over mediocre teams.

Tonight it's the Rangers at MSG. Both teams played last night but the Rangers had a flight back after a frustrating loss to Montreal last night in Montreal. Ideally, at least from the fans perspective the 4th line would be 85-19-28 and as for defense, would it not surprise to have the recently recalled Nogier in?

As long as the top 6 with some support from the TLC line can chip in night after night the Jets seem to survive but given the quality of competition lately that should be concerning. Feast when you can but it should not be so hard to clear the table.
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