It started out well. The Jets opened the scoring on a goal by Shawn Matthias, his eighth, but the Penguins answered right back on a goal by Nick Bonino. That would be the first of three tonight for Bonino.
By the end of the first period, it appeared that the Jets were going to hold their own against the defending Stanley Cup champions, as they built a surprising 3-2 lead.
But as has happened way too many times this season, the ol' second period monster reared its ugly head and the Penguins put three unanswered goals by Connor Hellebuyck before he was pulled in favour of Michael Hutchinson after allowing five goals on 15 shots. Hutch fared a little better, but not much, as he allowed two goals on 17 shots. The Pens stopped the massacre at 7-4.
Nikolaj Ehlers and Dustin Byfuglien rounded out the scoring for the Jets with their 22nd and 10th, respectively; and Marko Dano got his fourth goal of the season, when he tallied a late one at 18:45 of the third period. As it has been for many, many games for the Winnipeg Jets this tumultuous season, too little, too late.
So now the Jets remain seven huge points behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card spot. At this point, does it really matter what place they're in, in the division? The Los Angeles Kings also sit two points ahead of the Jets for the number two spot.
The stats say they're done, the experts say they're done, I say they're done, but stranger things have happened, I guess.
No. No they haven't.
