Winnipeg Jets: 3 Talking Points as Jets Come up Short Against Montreal
The Winnipeg Jets had a glorious opportunity last night when they matched up against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell MTS Place.
A Jets win would have put the Jets within two points of the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the North Division.
Unfortunately for Winnipeg, they could not generate any momentum against the Canadiens and did not pick up a point from Monday’s game.
The Winnipeg Jets lost 4-2 to the Montreal Canadiens
Here are three talking points from yesterday’s Jets vs. Canadiens game:
3. Turnovers
Throughout this season, the Jets have been pretty disciplined when it comes to turning the puck over. There have not been many eye-opening turnovers from the Jets, but last night was a different story.
Montreal scored their first goal of the game and the eventual game winning goal both off of Jets turnovers.
On the first goal, Andrew Copp was getting checked in front of the Jets pass and tried passing it back to his defenseman, but the pass flubbed off of his stick to the center of the ice.
This allowed the Canadiens to attack three-on-one and they made a beautiful back door pass to give them the early lead.
Late in the second period, Neal Pionk was getting pressured as he was retrieving a puck in his own defensive end. He got the puck and fired it up the wing, but unfortunately for him, Tyler Toffoli was there to intercept the pass.
Montreal then had a three-on-zero on Connor Hellebuyck and Toffoli made an outstanding move and fired the puck into the net. This goal put the Canadiens up 3-1 after two periods.
Throughout the course of a season, games like this happen. There is no doubt in my mind that the Jets will sure these turnover issues up before these sides met again on Wednesday night.
2. Kyle Connor Impresses on the Power Play
Winnipeg only had one goal scorer last night and both of his goals came on the man advantage. Kyle Connor was outstanding for the Jets on the power play yesterday.
On the Jets’ first man advantage, Winnipeg was extremely disorganized but they were given a lifeline when the Canadiens cleared the puck off the glass which resulted in an offensive zone faceoff for the Jets.
Winnipeg then performed a simple face off play. They won it to Josh Morrissey when passed it to the other point to Connor. Blake Wheeler went to the front of the net for a screen, while Connor walked the puck towards the goal.
Connor took a low shot, that Carey Price had no chance of seeing and the puck went through his five-hole. This goal was a perfectly executed, simple play.
Connor’s second power play goal was an outstanding one-timer. The Jets got the puck to Morrissey, who was at the point in the middle of the offensive zone.
Morrissey then fired a pass to Connor, who was on the faceoff dot to the left of the Canadiens net, and Connor ripped a one-timer bardown to put the Jets within one goal of the lead.
Kyle Connor is extremely fun to watch on the Jets’ man advantage. He has an absolutely outstanding shot that can beat goalies in a number of ways.
1. Carey Price Has a Memorable Outing
Since we are a Winnipeg Jets Fan Site, much of our focus after a game is about the Jets and how they performed, but Carey Price deservedly is the number one talking point from yesterday’s clash.
Price featured in his 700th career NHL game last night and is currently tied for 28th in NHL history for most games played by a goaltender.
The Jets took 36 shots on Price and they threw everything they had at him, but Price stood tall. The only two goals that he allowed came when the Jets had a power play.
The Canadiens number one netminder deserves full credit for his performance last night and is one of the main reasons the Jets left the game empty handed.
The Jets and Canadiens will finish this two-game series tomorrow night when these sides face off for a St. Patrick’s Day showdown. After that game, the Jets will hit the road for seven-straight games.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think the Winnipeg Jets should give Laurent Brossoit the start tomorrow? Leave your comments below!
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