After the All-Star break, and after their league-mandatory five-game time off, the Winnipeg Jets were back at it, defending their first-place slot in the Central division against the NHL-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
Without the services of defenceman Jacob Trouba, who suffered an ankle injury January 25 against the San Jose Sharks and will be out 6-8 weeks, the Jets defeated the Lightning this evening 3-1. Micheal Hutchinson made his 2017-2018 season debut since being called up from the Manitoba Moose. Adam Lowry returned from his injury and was an immediate factor, playing smart and tough defensively.
Patrick Laine notched his 22nd of the season, and Kyle Connor scored his 16th. With just under six minutes remaining in the third, Bryan Little came up big with his 11th of the season to give the Jets a two-goal comfort zone and Hutch did the rest.
With the win of the St. Louis Blues and the loss of Nashville last night, the Jets remain on top of the Central division, with their 30th win of the season, leading both teams by three points with a record of 30-13-8, good enough for 68 points thus far.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Jets Win First Overtime Game, Outlast Sharks
Before this evening's contest, the Winnipeg Jets were lousy 0-6 in overtime. They have three shouts to their credit, but no OT goals to speak of. They still have a lousy overtime record, but at least they were finally able to nab one. After a close, entertaining, high-scoring 60 minutes, the Jets were able to finally end it at 18 seconds of the extra period when Bryan Little finished off a Dustin Byfuglien wrap-a-round attempt, giving the Jets a 5-4 victory.
The Jets built up a 3-0 lead in the first period on goals from Mathieu Perreault (15) Joel Armia (8) and Bryan Little (9) until the Sharks Joe Pavelski scored late in the period.
The Sharks then got down to business and put a scare into the Jets by scoring five minutes apart to tie it up.
It looked as though the Jets may have taken control late, as Joel Armia scored on a broken play on a two-on-one rush with Brandon Tanev. Armia got his own errand pass come back to him in the blue paint, and he put his 9th, and second of the game, behind Aaron Dell.
But with 14:40 left in regulation, Timo Meier scored for the Sharks and forced the proceedings into overtime.
Just like Perreault scored 18 seconds into the games, Little ended it 18 seconds into overtime for, as stated, the Jets first overtime victory of the season. Winnipeg now stands at 4-7 in extra time. One for six in overtime, two for three in the shoot-out.
Overall, the Jets still hang on to first in the Central division, two points ahead of Nashville, four ahead of St. Louis with a record of 29-13-7 for 65 points.
The Jets built up a 3-0 lead in the first period on goals from Mathieu Perreault (15) Joel Armia (8) and Bryan Little (9) until the Sharks Joe Pavelski scored late in the period.
The Sharks then got down to business and put a scare into the Jets by scoring five minutes apart to tie it up.
It looked as though the Jets may have taken control late, as Joel Armia scored on a broken play on a two-on-one rush with Brandon Tanev. Armia got his own errand pass come back to him in the blue paint, and he put his 9th, and second of the game, behind Aaron Dell.
But with 14:40 left in regulation, Timo Meier scored for the Sharks and forced the proceedings into overtime.
Just like Perreault scored 18 seconds into the games, Little ended it 18 seconds into overtime for, as stated, the Jets first overtime victory of the season. Winnipeg now stands at 4-7 in extra time. One for six in overtime, two for three in the shoot-out.
Overall, the Jets still hang on to first in the Central division, two points ahead of Nashville, four ahead of St. Louis with a record of 29-13-7 for 65 points.
Monday, January 22, 2018
Hellebuyck, Jets Shutout Canucks
Other than padding their numbers at Bell MTS Place, such as, you know, wins; the Winnipeg Jets played probably their dullest game this year. Not just because of one goal scored by both teams, but because the action was slowed. More than average stoppages in play, neutral-zone turnovers, battles along the wall...just...boring. That's not to say there's wasn't any excitement, as Blake Wheeler and Patrick Laine did their thing to entertain, but it just wasn't...great.
Mind you it's all about the two points, so, la dee da.
Patrick Laine got the only goal of the game, scoring his 21st on an assist from Wheeler, that was Wheeler's 40th assist of the season.
Connor Hellebuyck earned his 25th win and fourth shutout of the season.
The Jets remain one point ahead of the Nashville Predators for first place in the NHL's Central division.
Mind you it's all about the two points, so, la dee da.
Patrick Laine got the only goal of the game, scoring his 21st on an assist from Wheeler, that was Wheeler's 40th assist of the season.
Connor Hellebuyck earned his 25th win and fourth shutout of the season.
The Jets remain one point ahead of the Nashville Predators for first place in the NHL's Central division.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Jets Climb Back Into First In Central With Win Over Flames
Coming out of their mandatory five-game bye-week instilled by the NHL owners, as part of the last rounds of collective bargaining negotiations, the Winnipeg Jets faced the white-hot Calgary Flames, who had won eight straight coming into this one.
Facing Johnny Gaudreau and a streaking Mike Smith in the Flames net, the Jets out-shot and out-chanced the Flames on route to a 2-1 shootout victory. The Flames had seemingly scored a late third-period goal, but it was disallowed due to goaltender interference.
After T.J. Brodie had opened the scoring in the first period for the Flames, and Mathieu Perreault scored for the Jets in the second; period three and overtime solved nothing, so the teams went into the shootout where both Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler beat Smith for the win.
It is only the second victory after regulation time for the Jets, as they are 0-6 in overtime and 2-1 in the shootout.
With the win, the Jets return to the top of the Central division at least for the time being, as the Nashville Predators are just one point behind Winnipeg. The St. Louis Blues are also right there in third, just two points behind the Jets.
Teams like Colorado and Dallas are slowly creeping up the division standings, as the Wild Card race tightens up.
The Jets now sport a record of 27-13-7 for 61 points. They sit second in the Western Conference and third in the NHL, behind only the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning.
NOTE: For only the second time was there no option to "share" or embed the game hi-lights. Sorry about that.
LINK
Facing Johnny Gaudreau and a streaking Mike Smith in the Flames net, the Jets out-shot and out-chanced the Flames on route to a 2-1 shootout victory. The Flames had seemingly scored a late third-period goal, but it was disallowed due to goaltender interference.
After T.J. Brodie had opened the scoring in the first period for the Flames, and Mathieu Perreault scored for the Jets in the second; period three and overtime solved nothing, so the teams went into the shootout where both Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler beat Smith for the win.
It is only the second victory after regulation time for the Jets, as they are 0-6 in overtime and 2-1 in the shootout.
With the win, the Jets return to the top of the Central division at least for the time being, as the Nashville Predators are just one point behind Winnipeg. The St. Louis Blues are also right there in third, just two points behind the Jets.
Teams like Colorado and Dallas are slowly creeping up the division standings, as the Wild Card race tightens up.
The Jets now sport a record of 27-13-7 for 61 points. They sit second in the Western Conference and third in the NHL, behind only the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning.
NOTE: For only the second time was there no option to "share" or embed the game hi-lights. Sorry about that.
LINK
Friday, January 19, 2018
Mason Out With Concussion; Tanev Activated Off Of IR
Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice has confirmed that goaltender, Steve Mason has been placed on injured reserve, as he has been diagnosed with another concussion. It's Mason's second concussion this season.
At the same time, the Jets have activated forward Brandon Tanev off of the injury reserve list.
Michael Hutchinson has been re-called from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
At the same time, the Jets have activated forward Brandon Tanev off of the injury reserve list.
Michael Hutchinson has been re-called from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Wheeler, Hellebuyck Named to All-Star Game
The Winnipeg Jets will have two representatives at the 2017 NHL All-Star game. Captain Blake Wheeler (14-52-68 pts) and goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck (23-4-6 2.36 GAA) Wheeler, although deserves a spot on the All-Star roster in his own right, is the replacement for Mark Scheifele, who is lost until early March at best, with a shoulder injury. If The Chef were able to play, again, Wheeler should be there anyway.
Hellebuyck is a no-brainer for the Jets. If he was the only selection, it would be the right one. Wheeler, Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine all deserve a spot, but without Connor Hellebuyck's play during this 2017-2018 campaign, the Jets are most likely not in a divisional race, and most certainly not in first place. He has single-handedly stolen points for the Jets this season, even when, nay, especially when his teammates have been less than spectacular in front of him. His average goal allowance is still just over two goals a game.
Blake Wheeler is also a no-brainer. His goal total may be under his average output at this stage in the season, but he is in the top two in the assists category with 38, trailing only the Philadelphia Flyers Jacub Voracek with 43. However, he is tied in this department with the Flyers Claude Giroux and the New York Islanders, Josh Bailey.
But more than his obvious skills on the ice, Wheeler's off-ice leadership is where it's at. In one word, it is priceless. He leads as leaders should. He stands up to take responsibility when things go south and spreads the credit around when things are on a high. One moment in particular encapsulates this. Last season, Patrik Laine's rookie year, Laine scored into his own net in a game versus the Edmonton Oilers. Wheeler immediately comforted a totally dejected Laine, and Laine himself the next day was quoted as saying, "Shit happens."
He moved on from a mistake that cost the Jets the game, and went on being the next Alexander Ovechkin. Wheeler's leadership and confidence in his rookie teammate was the reason.
The last time a NHL team sent more than one Winnipeg Jet to the All-Star game was back in 1993 when the Jets sent Teemu Selanne and Randy Carlyle.
It would have been nice to see Scheifele show his wares in front of the rest of the league, though.
Blake Wheeler
Connor Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck is a no-brainer for the Jets. If he was the only selection, it would be the right one. Wheeler, Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine all deserve a spot, but without Connor Hellebuyck's play during this 2017-2018 campaign, the Jets are most likely not in a divisional race, and most certainly not in first place. He has single-handedly stolen points for the Jets this season, even when, nay, especially when his teammates have been less than spectacular in front of him. His average goal allowance is still just over two goals a game.
Blake Wheeler is also a no-brainer. His goal total may be under his average output at this stage in the season, but he is in the top two in the assists category with 38, trailing only the Philadelphia Flyers Jacub Voracek with 43. However, he is tied in this department with the Flyers Claude Giroux and the New York Islanders, Josh Bailey.
But more than his obvious skills on the ice, Wheeler's off-ice leadership is where it's at. In one word, it is priceless. He leads as leaders should. He stands up to take responsibility when things go south and spreads the credit around when things are on a high. One moment in particular encapsulates this. Last season, Patrik Laine's rookie year, Laine scored into his own net in a game versus the Edmonton Oilers. Wheeler immediately comforted a totally dejected Laine, and Laine himself the next day was quoted as saying, "Shit happens."
He moved on from a mistake that cost the Jets the game, and went on being the next Alexander Ovechkin. Wheeler's leadership and confidence in his rookie teammate was the reason.
The last time a NHL team sent more than one Winnipeg Jet to the All-Star game was back in 1993 when the Jets sent Teemu Selanne and Randy Carlyle.
It would have been nice to see Scheifele show his wares in front of the rest of the league, though.
Blake Wheeler
Connor Hellebuyck
Jets Run Sabres Through
In what seemed like a game in where the Winnipeg Jets could score at will after wetting their pallets with yet another contest in which they scored at least seven goals, they still allowed four goals against, although starter Steve Mason made some brilliant saves early on, including a short-handed breakaway by the Sabres.
Patrik Laine opened the scoring with his 19th of the season on a sweet Laine-only-fashioned wrist shot that found its way to the bottom stick side of starter Robin Lehner on the power-play.
Dustin Byfuglien scored his second goal on a floater from the blue-line.
Kyle Connor scored twice, his 14th and 15th; once in the second and the other in the third. Nikolaj Ehlers also scored twice, including a laser of a top corner snipe. Both in the second period. His 18th and 19th of the season to tie Laine for the team goal-scoring lead. After that, Lehner was replaced with Chad Johnson, who fared a little better, but not much, letting in the next four goals.
Joel Armia rounded out the scoring for the Jets, with his 7th into an empty net.
Mason earned the victory with 30 saves, including a beautiful right pad save on Kyle Okposo when he broke in on a partial breakaway.
The final tally for the Jets was to be expected. They are a first-lace team and the Buffalo Sabres are at the bottom of the NHL standings. It should be that way when the team you are playing is 30 points behind you.
The Jets now sport a record of 26-11-7. Good for 59 points as they continue to hang on to first place in the Central division, and third overall in the league.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to embed the highlights for this game. So...a link instead it is.
Patrik Laine opened the scoring with his 19th of the season on a sweet Laine-only-fashioned wrist shot that found its way to the bottom stick side of starter Robin Lehner on the power-play.
Dustin Byfuglien scored his second goal on a floater from the blue-line.
Kyle Connor scored twice, his 14th and 15th; once in the second and the other in the third. Nikolaj Ehlers also scored twice, including a laser of a top corner snipe. Both in the second period. His 18th and 19th of the season to tie Laine for the team goal-scoring lead. After that, Lehner was replaced with Chad Johnson, who fared a little better, but not much, letting in the next four goals.
Joel Armia rounded out the scoring for the Jets, with his 7th into an empty net.
Mason earned the victory with 30 saves, including a beautiful right pad save on Kyle Okposo when he broke in on a partial breakaway.
The final tally for the Jets was to be expected. They are a first-lace team and the Buffalo Sabres are at the bottom of the NHL standings. It should be that way when the team you are playing is 30 points behind you.
The Jets now sport a record of 26-11-7. Good for 59 points as they continue to hang on to first place in the Central division, and third overall in the league.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a way to embed the highlights for this game. So...a link instead it is.
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
So, The Sharks Don't Like Winnipeg
Aw, boo-hoo.
A number of San Jose Sharks were asked prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets what was their least favourite city to play in was, and some whined about winter in Winnipeg being cold and dark. Cold and dark in Winnipeg, in Canada, during the winter? The devil you say!
I guess being pampered in southern California will make whiners out of professional athletes. Not that most of them, in all sports, aren't pampered little whiners with their millions of dollars to do what they love. Poor babies.
Coach Paul Maurice answered cool and collectively on behalf of, I think, all Canadian hockey fans.
Personally, losing to a better team might have the baby Sharks a little on the defensive these days. So agrees The Hockey News Ken Campbell.
“I hate Winnipeg because the Jets are way better than we are and we frittered away a bunch of years as a Stanley Cup contender by choking in the playoffs while they’re a team on the rise. I also hate Winnipeg because they’re a bunch of points ahead of us and The Hockey News has picked them to win the Stanley cup in 2019. “I heard it’s cold and dark. Well, that happens in Canada, occasionally, pretty regularly every winter. It’s dark at night, yeah that happens pretty much around the world. I don’t think any coach, any player, trainer, referee, should ever complain about a day in the National Hockey League. We’ve got a sold-out building, pretty sure that goes into hockey related revenues, everybody cashes their cheque. The thread count at your hotel isn’t right or your frappacino isn’t frothed right – I don’t even know what a frappacino is – but my point being, we’ve got nothing to complain about. A pretty good life, every day. Every city’s a pretty darn good one.” |
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