The Winnipeg Jets reached the halfway point of their longest road trip of the year on Friday, trying to stay perfect against the Philadelphia Flyers in a 11:30 AM game. The Jets couldn’t get past Flyers goaltender Steve Mason, however, and Sean Couturier did the deed at the other end of the ice, in a 2-1 Flyers win.
Nov 29, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31) reacts to a goal scored by Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (not pictured) during the second period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Scott Hartnell wasn’t suffering from any morning drowsiness, as he put the Flyers up 1-0 just 48 seconds into the game. The Flyers entered the zone right off the opening face-off, and after Winnipeg netminder Ondrej Pavelec turned away Philadelphia’s first shot of the game, Hartnell directed his fifth goal of the season into the net. The first period ended the way it began: all Flyers. Philadelphia directed 13 shots on net in the first, and Winnipeg only had two of their own. The chippy affair saw 6 minor penalties handed out in the first 20 minutes.
The Jets’ power-play was on their third opportunity of the night early in the second period, when Couturier increased the Flyers’ lead to 2 goals on a shorthanded marker. Winnipeg would turn their game up a notch at that point, and finished the period leading in shots, which were 12-10 in the frame.
Winnipeg would finally get on the board with 8 minutes left in the game, when Michael Frolik scored his seventh of the season, tying him with captain Andrew Ladd and Evander Kane for second among the Jets. That was as close as the Jets would come, however, as an attempt with the goalie pulled proved fruitless.
Winnipeg’s power-play continued to be an issue in the loss, going 0/6 on the night, and allowing Couturier’s short-handed game-winning goal. The Jets’ power-play is ranked at 28th league-wide as of Friday, with a 11.5% scoring percentage.
Dustin Byfuglien, whose pass lead to the said goal, led the game in ice time with a 27:24 mark. Byfuglien ended up -2 on the night, but was a physical factor with 5 hits.
Mark Stuart led the way on defence for the Jets, putting up an assist on Frolik’s goal to go along with two blocked shots and 5 hits, all in 17:10 of TOI.
Pavelec did a respectable job in the crease for the Jets, allowing two goals on 34 shots for a save percentage of .941%. However, his counterpart Mason outplayed him with a mark of .962%, saving 26 of 27 Jets’ shots.
The Flyers won at home for the fifth straight game, and now set off on a 6-game, 14-day road trip to the Central Division, against whom they are 1-0-1 (both against the Jets) this season.
The Jets fall below .500% on the road again at 5-6-1, after their 2-game win streak was snapped. The Jets will have the American Thanksgiving weekend off, before a Monday night battle with the New York Rangers. The Jets fall to 12-12-4 on the season, and are tied with the Nashville Predators for sixth place in the Central Division.
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