The Winnipeg Jets actually did shy away from their starting goaltender to start the road trip, but blew another third period lead anyway. Thankfully, they bounced back to win in OT.
The Winnipeg Jets have a legitimate problem. Winning this game masked some of it, sure, as losing to the New Jersey Devils to start a road trip isn’t exactly in the team’s best interest.
They started Laurent Brossoit, at my behest. And, all in all, it went pretty well. He was facing pressure pretty heavily the whole game. Gave up a goal early and then held steady.
And when the Jets took the lead in the third, I was not convinced they would make it hold. But they extended it to two goals and I thought, “It’s just New Jersey. And it’s Brossoit, not Connor Hellebuyck. They’ll hold it down”.
They did not hold it down. They blew the lead in the third anyway.
But Brossoit did make 36 of 39 saves, including one big two-on-nothing in overtime. It was New Jersey’s only shot in OT.
I suppose that acquits Brossoit a bit, as this was a good start for him. It’s unfortunate he let two goals in late in the third, but whatever. Looks like everyone in net for Winnipeg is going to do that.
Not that we weren’t aware of this with Hellebuyck, but the defense is not getting it done in close and late situations. Hellebuyck couldn’t keep pucks out in late situations, and apparently neither can Brossoit.
But two points was desperately needed in this game, and Mark Scheifele made certain the Winnipeg Jets traveled across the river with those in hand.
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Scheifele also extended the streak of games in which a Winnipeg Jet has had a multi-goal game to four. He scored the Jets’ first goal, tying things up in the second.
Then, in OT, he took the puck into the offensive zone, shot it, and lost it. Then he trailed Nico Hischier, lifting his stick and stripping the puck. Scheifele fired one on net, then gathered his own rebound for an easy putback over a collapsed Keith Kincaid, who had a hell of an OT period himself.
Josh Morrissey got the second goal, breaking the tie about halfway through the third, from Jack Roslovic and Mathieu Perreault. Then, a few minutes later, Andrew Copp deposited one of his own for the most dangerous lead in hockey. Proved to be this time, too.
Oh, and also, Mason Appleton assisted on the Copp goal, getting him a point in his NHL debut. Second time that’s happened to a Jets rookie this season, along with Krisitan Vesalainen in the season opener.
Look, two points is two points. And the Winnipeg Jets did get better play from their goaltender, but blew another lead in the third. A two goal lead against a bad team. Both with less than five minutes to go and the last with just under two minutes.
They had the net empty for ten seconds! And that one isn’t on Brossoit. And, to be fair, not all of them are on Hellebuyck. I’m unnecessarily hard on him at times, I know. But it’s only because I expect so much from him.
But Brossoit was on the ground and just about every Jet was around the net, but none of them could fight off Taylor Hall. Whatever. They won. I’ll take it, especially with another game tomorrow night against the surprisingly capable Rangers.
Half of their roster is dudes you’ve never heard of, but somehow they’re….out of a playoff spot. Okay, things change fast in today’s NHL. Parity is everywhere. But turns out the Rangers aren’t awful, as many thought they’d be, myself included.
And I’d expect Henrik Lundqvist tomorrow, so the Winnipeg Jets will have their work cut out for them. We’ll see. Let’s see if Hellebuyck can bounce back at MSG.