The Winnipeg Jets were 3-3 going into last night’s game in St. Louis. After a tough loss to a physical LA Kings team, they had a chance to redeem themselves facing a similar Blues team. The Blues, however, are sliding going 3-0-1 in their last four games. Friday night would be a chance for one team to get back on track.
The Winnipeg Jets needed a good win after the LA loss. While they did not get played out the door by the Kings, they did get made to look inferior. They should not have been able to do that to this Jets roster. Friday’s game in St. Louis was an opportunity to show that the loss to the Kings was a fluke and not evidence of a larger problem that may haunt them come playoff time. They did just that, making quite a statement and knocking the Blues around early and often in a game where they never were at risk of losing.
Diesel Jet Engine
Engines are very different depending on their fuel source. Electric is instant and almost digital in its reliability, starting right up at the push of a button. Gasoline is more analog but the old reliable standby, sometimes it does not turn over but you can play around with it to get it going. Diesel is very different, it is high-efficiency over long hauls but starts slow and needs some heat to get going. Most Canadians have engine warmers so they don’t get caught not able to start their cars.
The Jets are diesel. They are taking a bit to get started, but once they do they run strong all game long. However, it seems they need to get warmed up by the coaching staff to do so. St. Louis came out of the gate in this game strong, taking the puck and not giving it up. They worked to keep Winnipeg on their heels. The Jets were able to weather the storm however and got a beauty of a goal from Nic Petan who tapped a perfect east-west pass from Mark Scheifele in past Jake Allen. From there on it was the Winnipeg Jets game to lose.
Bronx Cheer
Jake Allen is having a tough year. He is now 2-12 with a .883 Sv% and a 2.875 GAA since December 12th. Woof. You could see it was clearly affecting him and his team in this game. St. Louis has a loss of confidence in 2018 that the coaching staff needs to snap them out of fast before they spiral out of playoff contention. He was not good at his angle on the Jets second goal of the game, a blistering wrist shot from the right circle by Blake Wheeler. He knew it too, and so did the team. After that goal, the Blues just kinda went through the motions for large stretches of the game. The fans knew it too as the boo birds came out in force throughout the latter half of the first period and even into the second. There were even a smattering of boos as St. Louis came off the ice during the first intermission.
Things in St. Louis are so bad right now that they gave Allen a sarcastic cheer when a puck harmlessly slid over to him during the 2nd period that he covered it up. That kind of thing happens to away team goaltenders who get blown out. When it’s happening at home, there are serious problems.
The Winnipeg Jets 3rd goal was a mixture of hard work, skill, and luck as Kyle Connor was able to take a Wheeler rebound in front of Allen and barely flip it over his pads and in. The Jets 4th goal came during the 2nd period off a cross-ice pass from Wheeler to a streaking Patrik Laine who sniped it top corner over Allen. If the Blues look deflated after that 2nd goal, they looked lifeless after the 4th. While they did have spots where they pushed, they never really were a serious threat for the rest of the game.
Whiteout’s Three Stars of the Game
Blake Wheeler – DVR every game this guy is in. He is in his prime and just amazing to watch. If he can keep confident and rolling in the postseason he will be a force to be reckoned with. His ability to make perfect passes and intimidate defenders is stunning right now.
Connor Hellebuyck – Connor Hellebuyck had to be on his game tonight. St. Louis did not simply mail this game in, they pushed at times to get back into it. But Hellebuyck was a wall that would not yield. A hard-fought and well deserved 6th shutout of the season for the Vezina candidate.
Next: Winnipeg Jets Trade Options: Calgary Flames
Jake Allen – No, seriously, hear me out. Allen was not good at times and looked rusty. But after the midway point of the game, the Jets kept pushing, and Jake was there to meet them every time. Winnipeg could have gotten twice as many goals as they did in this game, the chances were there. Allen deserves some credit for fighting past the self-doubt after the 2nd goal, the jeers and boos from the crowd, and fight the rest of the game. You can’t say as much about the team in front of him.