The Afterburners: Islanders edge Jets 3-2 in Shooutout

Well that didn't go according to script.

The Jets played a game in which for some stretches they were dominant, and for others they were dominated, although I'd have to say they were the better team for most of the night. it'd be easy enough to say that as the Jets had 38 shots on goal, better than the Isles' 33, but were unable to find the net in the dying stretches of the game when they really brought the pressure.

The Jets shootout record falls to 1-2 while the Isles improve to 2-2 in the skills competition that has no business deciding games. I especially hate it when I have zero confidence in the ability of one Ondrej Pavelec to save anything in these contests, because everyone knows his weakness is gloveside high, but he has seemingly done nothing to improve upon that.

The Jets saw goals from Nik Antropov on a nifty redirection in the 1st, and on a long wrister from Andrew Ladd that Montoya never saw. The Isles had goals from P.A. Parenteau after a defensive breakdown by the Jets, and then another from Michael Grabner as the Jets were victimized at the end of a long shift.

Parenteau would get the game winning goal in shootout, and an insurance marker by Frans Nielsen sealed it. The Jets were unable to put in either of their chances

It would have been good to see the Jets come away with 2 points from this exercise, as that would have pushed them into a "playoff spot", but instead they're left sitting on the outside looking in once more.

Game Highlights

1st Period: 08:17 NYI ES Goal P.A. Parenteau (5) (Matt Moulson, John Tavares); 18:00 WPG ES Goal Nik Antropov (Johnny Oduya);

2nd Period: 03:53 NYI ES Goal Michael Grabner (10) Travis Hamonic, Andrew MacDonald); 09:46 WPG Andrew Ladd 11 (Nik Antropov, Kyle Wellwood)

3rd Period: No Scoring

OT: No Scoring

Shootout:

WPG Blake Wheeler: Miss

NYI P.A. Parenteau: Goal

WPG Kyle Wellwood: Saved

NYI: Frans Nielsen: Goal

Shots: Winnipeg 38, New York 34

3 Star Selections: 1. Nik Antropov 2. John Tavares 3. Ondrej Pavelec

10 Thoughts from the Tarmac

• Ondrej Pavelec committed theft time and time again. The Jets may have outshot the Isles in this one, but the chances were better for New York and Pavelec came up big. If only he knew how to save shots glove high in shootout I would have no complaints about his effort tonight.
• New guy Antti Miettinen didn't look too bad, though he was on the ice for the second Islanders goal as the 5 Jet players were unable to change and had become completely gassed.
• Andrew Ladd played better. His journey to redemption has begun. And yes I know he has the second most goals on the team.
• Evander Kane demolished Al Montoya in the second period on a hit that will likely result in at least a phone call from Sheriff Shanahan. As Kane charged to the front of the net he was prevented from doing so by the Isles defender, which left him with really nowhere else to go but through Montoya, who ended up taking a good deal of lumber to the head. Kane was called for Goaltender Interference on the play, and the hit reminded me of the Jordin Tootoo hit on Ryan Miller. Tootoo got two games for that, and in that case Miller wasn't hurt. Montoya left the game after this collision.
• Ron Hainsey is an overpaid bum
• Johnny Oduya wasn't much better
• The Jets lost the faceoff battle 34 to 26. Partially the Jets fault, partially the fact that no two linesmen in this league follow the same system for dropping the puck. Where is the consistency?
• Evander Kane, despite cracking skulls, had 6 shots on goal and a bunch of other blocked or missed. you can't say he wasn't trying, but that top line looks more dangerous with Bryan Little in there. Sorry Burmi.
• Bryan Little spoke to TSN Jets during the game and announced that X-Rays were negative and that it's only a bruise and swelling keeping him out, so hopefully he can be back in soon. Thursday would be nice
• Thursday the Jets play home to the Montreal Canadiens, and then still at the MTS Centre play the pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. For Sidney Crosby fans in Winnipeg it looks like it will be 0 for 2 on the year in terms of chances to see him, as once again he's on the shelf with concussion symptoms.

That's all for now. I'm heading out of town for a bit so your next Game Preview will by handled by the man, the myth, the legend: arby_18. I'll see you all Thursday night when your Winnipeg Jets defeat the Habs.

GO JETS GO!