Peter Tessier: Decisions for D in Game 1 with Morrissey back Taking a look at some numbers and how they might influence the defence pairings...or not.

So - JoMo & Troubs are a lock .... I would venture to keep Chariot with Byf ... I'm starting Myers ... so the question is - who to start at 3LHD

With Kuli you get familiarity of pairing ... with Bo you get heavier play - more sandpaper

I'm calling this one a toss up before game 1 ... I'd start Kuli to keep familiarity but he'd be on a short leash ... if game 1 is played heavy - I may insert Bo, game 2

Now - who steps in for Tanev ? ... Lindholm, Hendy, Appleton (righty) ? ... maybe this is your next post ... I'm going with Lindholm but Hendy is on call for same reasons as Bo ... my reservation on Hendy is - last yr playoffs his lack of speed showed

BTW - most important thing tomorrow is score early ... "often" obviously helps, too ... but early is important ... get that kid Binnington to question himself

BTW - most important thing tomorrow is score early ... "often" obviously helps, too ... but early is important ... get that kid Binnington to question himself
- CorydonKeith

Rattle his head ... traffic in crease ain't bad, either - - - but score quick !

I agree with Keith....give Kuli a game and see what happens. If only for the familiarity aspect.

All the analytics in the world don't matter in the playoffs, if the defensive pairing doesn't get scored on. See Pittsburgh 2017 playoffs.

I agree with Keith as well, Kuli to start, but on a short leash.

I like Par to fill in, his defensive game looks solid and its another centre on the ice for face-offs.

Only way to beat a hot goalie is to get traffic in front and score greasy 'playoff' goals. In my mind this is on 55, he HAS to start going to the net and winning some puck battles (instead of chasing his stick around the ice), especially on the PP. We can't keep having Laine shoot and the D shoot clean shots with no traffic in front - so frustrating to watch.

Jets in 6!

All the analytics in the world don't matter in the playoffs, if the defensive pairing doesn't get scored on. See Pittsburgh 2017 playoffs.
- BWJumper

This. Pittsburgh in 2016 & 17, had a crap defensive core as did Washington last year. Any team that can win with either Ron Hainsey and Michal Kempny playing on the top pair proves that defense is an overrated position in hockey. I think the team with best depth at Center will win the cup.

I have made this point numerous times on this board, outside of the Blackhawks, every team that has won the cup since 2005 had two, #1 centers.

Ultimate predictions for the Jets:

They either get knocked out in the first round or make it all the way to the cup finals. There is no in-between.

A quick summary of the predictions for the West for the first series:

- 100% of all posters liked the Flames.
- JetsNation was the only one who thought Dallas would upset Nashville
- JetsNation was the only one who though SJ would beat Vegas.
- All the posters on this board liked the Jets except the St. Louis fans . Peter thinks the Blues will trounce the Jets as posted on the other boards but he didn't make that prediction here for obvious reasons.

Can't let Blues score first and take the fans out of the game.

A quick summary of the predictions for the West for the first series:

- 100% of all posters liked the Flames.
- JetsNation was the only one who thought Dallas would upset Nashville
- JetsNation was the only one who though SJ would beat Vegas.
- All the posters on this board liked the Jets except the St. Louis fans . Peter thinks the Blues will trounce the Jets as posted on the other boards but he didn't make that prediction here for obvious reasons.

Can't let Blues score first and take the fans out of the game.
- jetsnation

So... i have not made my prediction yet. How you could think i feel the Jets will get trashed is silly.

So... i have not made my prediction yet. How you could think i feel the Jets will get trashed is silly.
- Peter.Tessier

I based it on this mostly on this comment along with the stat comparisons in your own recent column that clearly pointed out the Jets and Maurice's deficiencies along with the Blues great record. Picking the Jets would clearly be taking the opposite of everything you've wrote.

"The Blues could torch the Jets"

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=98815

The 1st game is tonight so why not make your Western predictions ?

Had my playoff draft last night, a couple of the guys have some strong connections to the Jets and are somewhat “in the know” as per there sources,
Wheeler is the driving force between the locker room feuding. He has a “this is my team, and you do as I say mentality” supposedly wheels and shief do not get a long at all! (This was surprising to me) and shief is far from the only one. Sounds like It’s not so much old guys vrs young guys but most of the guys vrs our captain. Shief and Copp are not only roommates but supposedly best friends. There was also chatter of Morrisey being the next captain not shief.

Who knows but interesting none the less.

Side note, I am heading to grand forks today for three days (my wife planned this a long time ago and I clearly wasn’t listening or paying attention to the dates!!!) we have to apply in person for my sons US passport. (Both my kids are adopted from US and will be dual citizens). Anyways!!!!
Is reddit the best site to stream the game if it’s not on tv there? Any ideas???

Lets go Jets!!!!

Git 'er done.

So... i have not made my prediction yet. How you could think i feel the Jets will get trashed is silly.
- Peter.Tessier


I based it on this mostly on this comment along with the stat comparisons in your own recent column that clearly pointed out the Jets and Maurice's deficiencies along with the Blues great record. Picking the Jets would clearly be taking the opposite of everything you've wrote.

"The Blues could torch the Jets"

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=98815

The 1st game is tonight so why not make your Western predictions ?

I can think of a few Jets 'fans' wearing white in dark rooms and waiting for opportunity to deliver a prepared 'i told you so' autopsy, without respect for all that has been done well by the team or how dynamic hockey can be. GJG!

If Jets score more goals than Blues - we'll be fine

That's my way of saying we're so close to game #1 all the bull_hit doesn't matter ... once game #1 is played - then we enter a brand new 'what's good - what's not good' discussion

Don't know if the Jets are going beat the Blues, but I did decorate my car last night and am wearing my Myers jersey with pride today.

I am hoping the Jets win, but who knows.....

Don't know if the Jets are going beat the Blues, but I did decorate my car last night and am wearing my Myers jersey with pride today.

I am hoping the Jets win, but who knows.....
- TheUltimateJet

Of course, anything can happen but the Jets have a bit more recent experience under their belt considering their playoff run last year. Some key guys on the Blues like Schenn , O'Reilly, and Binnington have little to no playoff experience.

The Blues might be hot but the Jets should still be ranked as the favorites here. We have a more talented team , the better home crowd, and very good goaltending, so its really just a case of delivering the goods.

Don't know if the Jets are going beat the Blues, but I did decorate my car last night and am wearing my Myers jersey with pride today.

I am hoping the Jets win, but who knows.....
- TheUltimateJet

Jets win if they play with last year's desperation, and Hellebuyck is Conn Smythe candidate. i think this happens. Would feel better if line two was set. Not sure it is.

Jets in six, after splitting first two games.

Jets win if they play with last year's desperation, and Hellebuyck is Conn Smythe candidate. i think this happens. Would feel better if line two was set. Not sure it is.

Jets in six, after splitting first two games.
- grahamzky

One thing I do know is that line 3, with Little and Laine together is not doing anything. It hasn't worked in the last 2 seasons, but according to Maurice, "It's only a matter of time before they start clicking".

Had my playoff draft last night, a couple of the guys have some strong connections to the Jets and are somewhat “in the know” as per there sources,
Wheeler is the driving force between the locker room feuding. He has a “this is my team, and you do as I say mentality” supposedly wheels and shief do not get a long at all! (This was surprising to me) and shief is far from the only one. Sounds like It’s not so much old guys vrs young guys but most of the guys vrs our captain. Shief and Copp are not only roommates but supposedly best friends. There was also chatter of Morrisey being the next captain not shief.

Who knows but interesting none the less.
- Ross77

Download the Jets app so you at least listen to game if you can't view it. My wife had it on her phone and we listened to games in Hawaii last year.

Edit: Oh shoot, this was supposed to be a response to your next post about going to the states.

Had my playoff draft last night, a couple of the guys have some strong connections to the Jets and are somewhat “in the know” as per there sources,
Wheeler is the driving force between the locker room feuding. He has a “this is my team, and you do as I say mentality” supposedly wheels and shief do not get a long at all! (This was surprising to me) and shief is far from the only one. Sounds like It’s not so much old guys vrs young guys but most of the guys vrs our captain. Shief and Copp are not only roommates but supposedly best friends. There was also chatter of Morrisey being the next captain not shief.

Who knows but interesting none the less.
- Ross77

Who knows but if true thats pretty disappointing that this type of pettiness has crept into the room is has the potential to ruin a talented team.

Had my playoff draft last night, a couple of the guys have some strong connections to the Jets and are somewhat “in the know” as per there sources,
Wheeler is the driving force between the locker room feuding. He has a “this is my team, and you do as I say mentality” supposedly wheels and shief do not get a long at all! (This was surprising to me) and shief is far from the only one. Sounds like It’s not so much old guys vrs young guys but most of the guys vrs our captain. Shief and Copp are not only roommates but supposedly best friends. There was also chatter of Morrisey being the next captain not shief.

Who knows but interesting none the less.
- Ross77

Ya, who knows, but, if he is following the Mark Messier leadership path, it could be true. Rumours about Messier back in the Oilers heyday would be that he would back a kid up against the wall, and say look kid, if you want to win, you play this way. So, he was an intimidating leader to say the least. But, who knows.

I based it on this mostly on this comment along with the stat comparisons in your own recent column that clearly pointed out the Jets and Maurice's deficiencies along with the Blues great record. Picking the Jets would clearly be taking the opposite of everything you've wrote.

"The Blues could torch the Jets"

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=98815

The 1st game is tonight so why not make your Western predictions ?
- jetsnation

Here is what EK is saying for these series starts:

Nashville in 6
Blues in 7
Vegas in 6