The Jets entered this one badly in need of points after a couple of questionable efforts on the weekend. As a result, I don’t think anyone was too disappointed with Chevy’s lack of action on trade deadline day.
The writing appears to be on the wall that this year, wrought with injuries and contract controversies, isn’t the Jets’, and the best bet as an organization is to begin looking ahead to next year. The young core players will be a year older, perhaps DeMelo and Eakins will be signed, and they should have cap space to spare.
It might behoove the Jets’ brass to prioritize some muscle come free agency considering the beating these youngins’ have taken this year. Some of it, no doubt, retribution from years of having to deal with the likes of Byfuglien, Chiarot, Myers, and Tanev.
Maybe a couple hometown guys to join Eakin, if they can be persuaded. I’m thinking along the lines of Travis Hamonic and Ryan Reaves. Both should be affordable, and if they want to chase the dream in their hometown, my guess is they would be given fairly important roles.
Niku wouldn’t play because of an injury that occurred before warmup. Hard to believe he would have been the difference on this one, but his absence was a disappointment.
Brossoit went in and everyone wondered why Hellebuyck played both games on the weekend. Was management gauging their team’s playoff aspirations and giving them their best shot to win? Are they just old school and don’t care what the trends are? Does Maurice spin a wheel that has a ludicrously low number of outcomes where Brossoit is the starting goaltender? We’ll never know, and that’s the magic of sport.
Harkins was on the top line, at least to start the game, because Maurice was liking his straight-line play. Copp does that too, and thus made a lot of sense with him later as well. Is he becoming the kind of guy that can be plugged anywhere into the lineup a la Brandon Tanev?
1st Period
After Ovie’s ceremony for scoring 700 goals in the NHL, it didn’t take him long to add to his totals.
A couple of Russians brought some tough stuff. First with Kovalchuk putting Poolman on his pants, and then Laine, dangling with his head down, got laid out by Orlov.
Is this team actually missing Brandon Tanev or some kind of big guy to boost them on bench? Would Adam Lowry be the difference? I doubt it’s that simple, but those kinds of guys certainly couldn’t hurt.
2nd Period
Apple almost got one doing his best Bobby Orr impression driving to the net and going backhand early in the second. But then Brossoit had to stop both Hagelin and Kovy in front of the net. Followed by another stellar save on Hagelin alone in front.
But off the next face off a point shot bounced off Brossoit and Hathaway was there to put it away.
After giving that one up, Brossoit made a huge save off of Kuznetsov on a breakaway. It was a tricky looking move too. Real good on Brossoit to stay with it. Not as good on the next one, when Kovalchuk put it past him and off the outside of the far post. Can’t win ‘em all, but sometimes lady luck has got your back.
Finally, the Jets would catch a break when Eakins intercepted a puck and put it on net. Holtby thought he had it but it sat in front until Ehlers found it and stuffed it in.
Immediately after the Jets would give up a grade A chance to the Great 8. Dumb. Despite the eventual (SPOILER!) loss, Brossoit was quite good in this one.
3rd Period
Early on, the Jets would have to kill off a penalty, but right after Connor stole a puck, broke away from his own blue line, and delivered a down right devious deke on Brayden Holtby.
And then Scheifele, on a hope and a prayer, drove the net while falling down and got off a weak backhand that was helped by a Cap defender’s skate and past Holtby. Ha!
Maurice would begin the OT session with an all-forward line of Connor, Scheifele and Wheels. It was innovative and we saw an immediate effectiveness to it. Still, I don’t know why when Wheeler and Scheifele were about to go in 2 on 1, Scheife was so eager to go offside. Doesn’t he know his long-time line-mate can sauce the shit out of a pass?
Vrana would go on a dangerous rush and try going high short side almost connecting. Ovie got two quick wristers off on Brossoit, but the goalie got the better of both of them. And then when it was Laine’s turn, his shot was snared by Holtby.
Shootout
Scheifele and Wheeler would calmly hit their marks and make it look easy. But when it was do or die, Ehlers electing to go with the slapper could not get it to go.
The Wrap
So, the point certainly doesn’t hurt, and could be considered quite fortunate to have at all. It keeps the Jets in the wildcard race at the very least. As alluded to earlier though, this isn’t a contending Jets team. It could be a contending team in the future though. Would Reaves and Hamonic do it? I don’t know. But it’s big guys and the back-end that left after last year so I’m thinking that could be part of the solution.
It’s not easy to come home and play your first home game, the statistics on that are very clear. How much worse is it when you know you have to pack up and leave right after?
That’s what’s up. Caps in the ‘Peg, and the off to play the Oil in Edmonton. That first one is at 7:00 PM on Thursday. The Saturday game is the late one at 9:00 PM.
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