Follow me on Twitter
The Set Up
The Jets came into this one three points out of a wildcard spot after losing 2 – 1 in OT to Nashville on Tuesday. It was a bummer but, getting loser points is going to help determine if this team can even stay on the bubble.
Thankfully, the old Jets were back. The ones we saw to start the year, with the high save percentages and timely execution. Just going to say, Connor Hellebuyck, wow. What a season so far.
Paul Maurice coached in his 500th game and Alexander Steen got to celebrate playing over 1000 games on home ice. Both these feats of longevity are as incredible as they are deserved.
After singing about two countries, the game started.
1st Period
Ryan O’Reilly almost had the Blues on the board first after snapping Sanford’s chip pass the 2 on 1. It would be the beginning of things to come
The Jets eventually got a high danger chance when Scheifele cruised into the zone and dropped a pass for Laine to snap, but Binnington absorb it with the shoulder.
Next Schwatz, walked in after taking a bank off the boards from Perron, and just about stuffed one in the short side. That was way too easy for him, and it wouldn’t be the only play like that in the game.
Things would get a whole lot cheerier when Jansen Harkens scored the first NHL goal of his career. And, it was pretty sweet too! Making a quick, little angle change, before sniping one short side and surprising Binnington.
Credit to Copp and Roslovic with the crisp passes. That line was the Jets’ best on the night, using their speed and just dogging the puck. They would all finish a plus two and play over 15 minutes.
The score withstood a flurry of penalties and powerplay opportunities, including a 4 on 3, and 5 on 3 for the Blues. I thought Pietrangelo’s one timed slapper from the high slot was their best chance, but there were so many to choose from. Robert Thomas had a howitzer from the half circle the Hellebuyck did well to handle.
More cheer though! Harkins almost got his second by deflecting a pass to himself between his legs and then getting a couple whacks at it. He keeps this up and pretty soon they’ll all be calling him The Hark. Correction: I will be calling him The Hark. Confession: I already call him The Hark.
2nd Period
There would be chances for both sides to start the period, even though it ended fairly lob-sided in the Blues’ favour. Copp almost got a goal reaching for a rebound on the backhand and sent it just wide.
The top line got a gorgeous goal on the 3 on 1 when Scheifele, taking the drop pass from Conner, faked shot just enough, and fed Laine for the one-timer.
And now the bad news. Sbisa would block a shot that appeared to catch the inside of his knee. He left the ice without putting any weight on it and it did not look good.
Hellebuyck robbed shot after shot on the powerplay until a fortuitous deflection went straight to Parayko who went ahead and crushed it.
I don’t think any Blues got hosed as much as Schwartz tonight and he was visibly frustrated. Not long after those failed attempts though, Carl Gunnarsson got things tied up with a sneaky little seeing eye wrister.
On a side note, the name Carl Gunnarsson has a lot of potential. Yeah, just lose the Carl, and change it to Denver. Denver Gunnarsson. No! Gunnerson with an E and one S for brevity. Denver Gunnerson.
3rd period
Helle went back to work making an incredible toe save off a rebound from an already difficult point shot. Back the other way, Connor got puck in tight, deked to the forehand, and let a shot go that needed a few inches to get over Binnington's outstretched pad.
Then, after stoning Pietrangelo off the rush, he crashed into Hellebuyck trying to allude the Jets’ defender. Helle just shook it off and play resumed. The guy's a champ.
The third line would do it again when, Roslovic threw one at the net and Harkins and Copp banged away at it. Eventually, it was Copp with diving backhand that alluded Binnington and gave the Jets the lead mid way through the third.
The Jets would hang on and actually look pretty good doing it. Sustaining pressure in the Blues’ zone for significant periods and making smart plays. And then Ehlers would dust it off with a goal into the empty net. Yay!
The Wrap
The Jets defense was rather porous again, Hellebuyck was incredible, and the boys executed well. So, they’re back baby! And, they're hanging in that wildcard race. I really don’t know how they do it sometimes, but that was a pretty, fun game and it's great to be in the chase.
The next one is Saturday at 1 pm. Have a good weekend!
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»