Winnipeg Jets Show Us It’s Good to Have NHL Hockey Back
The Winnipeg Jets showed up hungry to their first preseason game. And boy, it’s good to have NHL hockey back.
The Winnipeg Jets and their fans are eager for the season to start. They’re hungry, and they have as good a chance as any at winning the whole thing this year.
Nobody wanted the bad taste from last year’s exit to remain in their mouths. Well, after one meaningless game, I think we’re all excited again. I know I am. There’s just something about watching a real hockey game.
You can watch highlights and Junior tournaments, but it’s not the same. Watching a real game is special. It’s not even the good parts. It’s about the parts where someone just flips the puck out of the zone.
I felt good. The Winnipeg Jets looked good. It’s good to be back, boys. Anyway, I have some thoughts on game one.
Brossoit the puck away
Laurent Brossoit has turned me into a believer. I know how much coaching and defense can affect the play of a goaltender. It’s not everything, sure, but it helps. Positioning is so important. These guys are all talented.
Some more than others, sure, but they’re all there for a reason. I was starting to come around on the Brossoit idea after some deliberation, and now I’m 100% on the train. He was legit last night.
Stopped all three powerplays. Made a hot stop on a breakaway. Made 39 saves on 40 shots, the one goal coming at even strength from former friend Matt Hendricks. He was in close and cleaned up a rebound.
Not a lot to blame Brossoit for. He had the edge over Eric Comrie in the backup goaltender battle, even before this game, and this really pushed him higher. Great stuff for Winnipeg.
Playing more like Mario.
Not Super Mario, mind you, but Mario Lemieux. Brendan Lemieux, son of Claude, no relation to Mario, played really well. He impressed me with his physicality and his effort.
Like his father, he’s a pure agitator. Not a huge skill guy, but he can grind you down. I guess they call them grinders.
The Jets, like every other team, could benefit from a little passion on the fourth line. I’m not saying they lack edge, but a little extra couldn’t hurt. He’s a guy you won’t miss if he spends five minutes in the box.
Which, coincidentally, he did, after going skate-to-skate with defenseman Nick Seeler. Oh, and he put the shot on net that Marko Dano was able to push in off the rebound. On that play, Sami Niku had a nice pass up the boards that led to the shot.
Niku assist on a Dano goal? Sure, I’ll take it. I’m still not convinced Dano gets real minutes in the regular season, but teams could have worse extra forwards.
Special teams notes
Bryan Little got the second most time shorthanded out of the forwards, bested by only Mason Appleton. It was good to see the kids get some time, too. But I bet Little is used heavily as a defensive forward.
He might be between Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, so he doesn’t need a ton of offensive upside. It wouldn’t hurt, though. But if he can play heavy PK minutes, great.
I know the kids were a big part, but Laine and Ehlers assisted on a goal from Joseph Morrow. Well, it counted as a goal. It actually never crossed the goal line. Eh, it was a nice play anyway?
It’s clear the Jets are interested to see what Joe Morrow can do. I think he gets a spot on the top 4, honestly. Byfuglien with Morrow, Morrissey with Trouba and Kulikov with Myers? I think that works.
That way you can run out three good pairings. Kulikov/Myers is the bottom, but it’s better than some team’s second pairing.
I thought Logan Stanley was fine. He used his size to his advantage, and led the team with four blocked shots.
Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey, Blake Wheeler, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele all weren’t in the lineup. Even still, the Winnipeg Jets going 0-5 on the powerplay isn’t encouraging.
It’s one game without your top boys (minus Laine) on the powerplay, but still, it would’ve been nice to see one go in. But hey, it’s game one. Rust is there. I’m not the least bit worried.
As always, these games mean nothing. I don’t care if Laine doesn’t score at all in the preseason, I’m sure he’ll put up ~40 goals by the end of the year.
Next. Winnipeg Jets Meet NFL Stars. dark
That being said, it’s nice to see the guys trying to lock up spots play well. Brossoit, Morrow, Lemieux, Niku. They all shoved when they really needed to. The next game is on Thursday evening against the Oilies.