The Winnipeg Jets trailed from about midway through the second until 19:27 into the third, but lost in OT tonight.
The Winnipeg Jets are a better team than the Colorado Avalanche. I don’t believe that to be a controversial statement. They could not, however, dispatch of them this evening. Give credit to the Avs, though. They were furiously outplayed in the first period, rallied in the second, then were outplayed again in the third. They managed to do enough to secure two points in OT, though, even after losing their starting netminder.
The first period was all grit and guile, with the Jets looking like pretty much everyone as looked against Colorado the past few years. They’ve been a recent laughingstock, but are having a solid season (43 points in 39 contests). They weren’t in on pucks, weren’t strong on either check, and didn’t get enough pucks to the net. They put only seven shots on Connor Hellebuyck in the first, with two coming on the man advantage.
In the second, the tides were turning. Colorado turned pressure into a goal fairly early in the second. Nathan MacKinnon took a broken centering pass and was able to flick it past a flailing Hellebuyck for the first goal. A lot can be said about the Jets stars, but McKinnon seemed to be pretty clearly the best player on the ice tonight.
Less than three minutes later, MacKinnon was back at it again. After Kyle Connor lost his stick (and subsequently the ability to clear the zone), McKinnon shot a pass across the slot to Mikko Rantanen, and the team that looked worse in the first had a two goal lead.
Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov exited the game in the second, after a rush up front appeared to rattle him. He was replaced by Jonathan Bernier and would not return.
Varlamov was great in the first half of this game, stopping all 21 shots he faced. Bernier ended up facing 23. A lot of shots in this game, so, something good to focus on. More good? Blake Wheeler. He brought the Jets to within one with his goal 37 seconds into the third. It came on a deflection of a shot by Patrik Laine, which I’m surprised didn’t just snap Wheeler’s stick in half.
The first goal by the Winnipeg Jets broke a franchise record 36 (!!) consecutive penalty kills for the Avalanche. Had to go sometime, might as well have gone to a great powerplay unit and on a deflection. The Jets lead the NHL with ten of those, (h/t TSN).
Colorado seemed content to try and protect this lead, and played a dump-and-go game in the third. I understand trying to keep the two points, but with a one-goal lead against a team with this firepower, you have to try to extend.
Blake Wheeler was at it again with Hellebuyck on the bench, as he took an odd deflection off the stanchion behind Bernier and buried it to tie the game. He was stopped by Bernier about a minute into overtime as he tried to go five hole for the natural hat trick.
Dustin Byfuglien nearly made his triumphant return from a lower body injury tonight. I mean, he returned, he just wasn’t triumphant. He took a breakaway in OT, but looked like an F650 trying to accelerate into the zone. Defense caught up to him and his shot was blockered away. Good to see Big Buff back, though, and playing heavy minutes. He played a team high 25, short just of Erik Johnson’s 27.
Erik Johnson, the very same defenseman who did finish a breakaway in this game. He took a flick pass off an interception from Rantanen and beat Hellebuyck to give Colorado the win with just ten seconds left in extras. Pity.
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White Out’s 3 Stars
- Nathan McKinnon – Two points for him, two points for the team, and a little shine on some of the sky high potential he so often flashed in his younger days. He may be forgotten in Colorado, but he’s one of the league’s best.
- Blake Wheeler – He tried. Two goals for the captain wasn’t enough to win, but it’s enough in my heart. Have a star, bud, you’ll get them next time
- Erik Johnson – Could’ve been another star for Hellebuyck had the Jets won (He was NHL’s first star last week), but the nifty game-winner and solid defensive game put him in this spot.
Leftovers
The Winnipeg Jets must play better defense. I know giving up 26 shots in 65 minutes looks solid, but too many of these are on broken plays and great looks. Tighten up, boys. Hopefully the return of Byfuglien and looming return of Enstrom help out.
Much has been made of the great start by Connor Hellebuyck, but he saved this from being a blowout. Great save after great save. He had a little Henrik Lundqvist in him tonight, it was good to see.
Marko Dano played about seven minutes after scoring his first goal of the season last game. I think it’s important for the Jets to roll him out there, see what they have. He’s a talented kid, and they need the depth after the Scheifele injury.
Matt Hendricks played good defense and was 86% in the faceoff circle tonight. Can’t hate on that from your veteran fourth liner.
Next: Winnipeg Jets: Review of 2017
What’s Next
The Winnipeg Jets head home to take on the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, Jan 5. They have only ten wins in 39 games. Yeesh.