Winnipeg Jets: Beating the Anaheim Ducks

It seems like it was only yesterday that the Winnipeg Jets were swept out of the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks. But as you know, it wasn’t yesterday that the Jets fell to the Ducks. Going into the 2015-2016 season the question could be raised of if the Jets were to tangle with the Ducks again, could they defeat them? What circumstances would need to be put in place to ensure that the Winnipeg Jets would beat the Anaheim Ducks?

Firstly, and I know must of you are thinking this, but a change in the Jets’ net is needed if they are ever to take down the Ducks post the regular season. Ondrej’s Pavelec’s postseason stats last season make you question if he was ever in the net at any point in time (I didn’t see anyone). Pavelec went 0-4 with a GAA of 3.73, save percentage of .891, and 15 goals allowed.

So what do I propose is the solution to the Jets’ goaltending woes? Start Michael Hutchinson against the Ducks. With the St. John’s Ice Caps during the 2013-2014 postseason we saw Hutchinson go 12-9 with 3 shutouts, a save percentage of .938, and a GAA of 1.22. In the NHL, Hutchinson has also proven to be more then able, going 21-10-5 last season with a GAA of 2.39 and save percentage of .914.

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There is no doubt in mind that Hutchinson could handle the NHL postseason atmosphere, for to better Pavelec performance against the Ducks all you really have to do is…show up.

Lastly, your Captain has to show up too. Andrew Ladd’s performance in the postseason may not be as bad as Pavelec’s, but it is still bad, and is no where near the calibre that a postseason Captain should exhibit. Ladd had 1 point in 4 games played in the postseason and went -3.

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I’m going to be short and sweet with this one, you can’t beat the Ducks, or any team in the playoffs when your team or your Captain does not exhibit the heart needed to go that extra mile and lead your team in the darkest of series (the Sharks know what I’m talking about).

It was not just Andrew Ladd that didn’t exactly bring his A-game, Dustin Byfuglien went 0-1 and went -4, and Blake Wheeler scored one goal and then went -3. The best performances were by Bryan Little, Adam Lowry, and Mark Stuart. No offense to those guys and I love those guys, but when they are your best performers in a playoff series, something went wrong.

In order to beat the Ducks or any team in the playoffs for that matter, you have to show up, and have your starts bring the heart that showed all season. If those don’t happen, nothing will ever happen for you, no matter who you play. I know I’m quite harsh in this article, but no hockey team ever got anywhere without a bit of truth and whip.

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