The Afterburners: Things Fall Apart

by Bettman's Nightmare on Dec 23, 2011 11:50 PM EST

Things fall apart,

the centre cannot hold;

mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

- William Butler Yeats

"The Second Coming"

Well, as fetch mentioned before the game it was probably best going into this game to think of it as a "no point night". But after the 1st and 2nd periods, I just couldn't. We were actually playing a solid game, and probably should have been winning. I had a pretty new pet, I pet it, I massage it...and then I take my naughty pet and I go crriiicckkk, cricccckkkk...ooohhhh, I killed it. And that's when we blew it.

I guess it wasn't all that bad, but it sure was depressing to think we might have had them until it all came crashing down. No matter, there's egg nog for that (at least for texan, I can't stand the stuff). Alexander Burmistrov had a goal on a nifty Blake Wheeler pass, 'cause that's how he do. Ondrej Pavelec did pretty well against an onslaught, though the last goal was probably one he'd like to have back. The boys get some time off now, and all-in-all they've played admirably to this point, so a holiday vacay well-deserved.

Info and thoughts after the jump.

Final - 12.23.2011	1	2	3	Total
Pittsburgh Penguins	1	0	3	4
Winnipeg Jets	0	1	0	1

Complete Coverage >

1st Period: 13:59 Pittsburgh ES Goal, Joe Vitale (2) (Alexandre Picard [4])

2nd Period: 9:11 Winnipeg ES Goal, Alexander Burmistrov (8) (Blake Wheeler [20], Evander Kane [11])

3rd Period: 0:22 Pittsburgh ES Goal, James Neal (20) (Evgeni Malkin [25], Chris Kunitz [11]); 4:14 Pittsburgh PP Goal, Jordan Staal (13) (Chris Kunitz [12], Steve Sullivan [12]); 4:54 Pittsburgh ES Goal, Pascal Dupuis (10) (Tyler Kennedy [11])

Shots: Winnipeg 19, Pittsburgh 39

Thoughts

Eesh, look at those shot totals. The 1st period yielded a weirdly lopsided shot total (in PIT's favor) despite the Jets playing very well, but the 3rd was an out-and-out disaster. Poor Ondrej Pavelec, not only does he have to wear the most boring pads in Winnipeg, but he also gets pummeled like a slow kid in dodgeball.
Much like Alexei Emelin last night, it looks like Matt Cooke was the target tonight. Everybody was running the fool, and he was doing his damnedest to deserve it. Despite his claims, he is definitely still Matt Cooke.
AC (Jim Slater) got a breakaway and mucked it, because that's who he be.
I think Andrew Ladd drove me the most crazy, mucking a number of prime opportunities by missing the net.
Tanner Glass executes a perfectly clean hit on Evgeni Malkin, then Arron Asham goes after him. Because that makes sense.
Joe Vitale scored his goal thanks to Boogie with Stu (Zach Bogosian, Mark Stuart; mostly Stuart) not noticing he had slipped behind them. Goaltenders are trained to get the first shot, and do what they can with the rebound - and that rebound needed to be cleared. Unfortunately, it wasn't, and because he's such a diaper dandy Vitale put it home. This happens way too often to us.
Not only did Bubba Blake get it done with the assist, but he had an awesome backcheck in the 2nd to disrupt a 2-on-1. You are playing your way into my heart, son.
Stuart also got taken to school by James Neal. Like literally, Neal made his lunch for him, brown-bagged it, tied his shoes, and dropped him off at the double-doors. That bad.
Things really started to unravel after Dustin Byfuglien was called for a questionable goaltender interference penalty, which apparently also applies if a teeny weensy Pittsburgh defenceman tries to hit you, gets blown back, and hits his own goalie. There was literally no intent there to hit the guy into Marc-Andre Fleury, but sometimes you get big, and sometimes big gets you. Edit: As mentioned below, Buff was called for interference for bumping the little guy, not for Fleury. Last part still applies ("Sometimes you get big, and sometimes big gets you").
This was another one of those nights where I was really impressed at what this team is capable of. I have to admit that I wasn't overly optimistic about the Jets' prospects this year, but now I'm far more confident that we're looking at a team that could finish around 85-90 points and possibly sneak into the playoffs.
I was really hopeful, now I'm sad. I need presents. Happy Holidays, Jets and Jets fans, it's been a real gift so far...

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Comments

Atmosphere was electric for 40 minutes, then fell apart at the end.

Thoughts:
I will forever hate Marc Andre Fleury. I don’t know if he’s pulled stunts like that in other games but he hit the net off (before the Buff penalty one) when there was not a single player within 5 feet of the net. That should have been a delay of game.
His second great acting job came when Buff pushed the defender lightly into him, and then Fleury flopped into the net. On the replay, it does not look like the domino effect the refs thought it was. Buff pushes the guy, guy lightly taps Fleury, Fleury is apparently hit by a barrage of unseen bullets.
Pittsburgh played well, rolled their lines, came in waves. They are an impressive team, even without Crosby. But that BS reffing really leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

I really wish someone had taken another run at Malkin. He's a real tough guy out there.

You have been banned from Stampede Blue.
You apparently aren't interested in commenting on the Colts, but instead just want to take shots at editors for how we manage our blog. Thus, you're now no longer welcome.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 24, 2011 12:04 AM EST reply actions

Nets

The net coming off was a little suspect to say the least, but the Jets were just plain beat in first 5 of the 3rd. Too bad cause they started the game out strong.

by dobsonbr on Dec 24, 2011 10:28 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

I think you're being awfully kind when you saw "the net coming off was a little suspect."

They showed the replay on the screen, Fleury cleary pushes the net off the first time it happened.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 24, 2011 10:46 AM EST up reply actions

I was at the game and they didn’t show a good angle of the net coming off. My guess it was already off it’s moorings and his little bump knocked it off.

And as for the Big Buff play, it was called interference, not goaltender interference, so he got the penalty for knocking over the defenseman not Fleury.

Look at Lemieux! Oh my goodness! What a goal! What a move! Lemieux, Whooa Baby!

by The Malk-Man on Dec 24, 2011 10:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Oof

Then the call makes even less sense. I think the last part of that bullet still applies (“Sometimes you get big, and sometimes big gets you”).

Co-Manager at Arctic Ice Hockey

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by Bettman's Nightmare on Dec 24, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

As Pierre McGuire would say, it was just two minutes for being too strong. I guess when you’re that big you’ve gotta be careful how hard you shove those smaller guys.

Look at Lemieux! Oh my goodness! What a goal! What a move! Lemieux, Whooa Baby!

by The Malk-Man on Dec 24, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

The final push (right when the puck went in) Fleury pushed it

But the net was already clearly off. Fleury was basically alerting the refs by making it obvious.

How did the net get knocked off initially? Was that on Fleury?

by Alex Hemsky on Dec 24, 2011 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

It was Fleury, but not intentionally. It was a scramble, slide across into the post play which is never penalized.

Look at Lemieux! Oh my goodness! What a goal! What a move! Lemieux, Whooa Baby!

by The Malk-Man on Dec 24, 2011 11:04 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

being kind...

It’s that time of the year to be kind.

by dobsonbr on Dec 24, 2011 12:18 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Gotta respond to the thoughts above from Winn 13:

Dude, hate is a strong word. If this was a feeling accrued over years of MAF doing your team wrong, I may concede your point. But the goal post ‘push’ was ambiguous, and the interference was on Buff pushing the d man, not MAF flopping. (Also, if Pavelec has never flopped in the crease to get a call, then he would be the first goalie in NHL history to do so.)
Further,
“I really wish someone had taken another run at Malkin. He’s a real tough guy out there.”

Classy. And in no way generated by an inordinate amount of jealousy.
As a Pens fan, I came over to this site expecting a knowledgeable and thankful fan base. Overall this seems to be the case, but when you “hate” a player after two plays that didn’t go your way, that just comes off as knee jerk and petty.
Also, if someone could explain why Jets fans insisted on booing Malkin whenever he touched the puck, I’d greatly appreciate it. Considering he’s played all of two games against the Jets (the first you won, and correct me if I’m wrong but Malkin may have been injured and didn’t play), the amount of vitriol seems unfathomable. If this is how Jets fans show respect, they may want to figure out another method.
Pens fans boo two players and two players only: Jaromir Jagr after he forced a trade 10 years ago, and Ovechkin for taking out Gonchar’s knee in the playoffs. Those seem like, if not fair reasons, at least justifiable.
Thanks for your time.

by Ibid78 on Dec 24, 2011 10:01 PM EST up reply actions

Can't respond to the hate for MAF

But the booing isn’t personal. The star player or captain of every opponent has been boo’d. Only a couple people have earned it.

It makes the fans happy and doesn’t hurt anybody. Then again, if it does hurt the opponent then maybe it gets them off their game and helps the team.

It is what it is and it isn’t a big deal.

by truck on Dec 25, 2011 12:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Much obliged

Pens fans don’t normally do that, so clarification on the subject helps. But then again, they’re often too quiet anyway.

by Ibid78 on Dec 25, 2011 7:20 AM EST up reply actions

I watched Malkin that game, he's just a nuisance. Talented, absolutely, but I'm not oblivious to the image of him losing his temper and slashing the Jet player.

So ya, that must be pretty “classy” too.

You can come over here and go on your soap box all you want, but I don’t care. I would never wish injury on a player, but I dearly wanted to see someone smoke Malkin (cleanly, if you’re still not getting it.)

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 25, 2011 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

Missed this one too... :(

Calgary is an awful place.

I saw 1 – 1 after 2, but didn’t get another look till it was final. Fack!! :( :(

by truck on Dec 24, 2011 12:55 AM EST via mobile reply actions

i am honored to have made the postgame thread

hopefully it will be under happier circumstances some other time

I write everywhere. You're probably better off following me on twitter

by fetch9 on Dec 24, 2011 1:07 AM EST reply actions

Tanner Glass executes a perfectly clean hit on Evgeni Malkin, then Arron Asham goes after him. Because that makes sense.

It makes perfect sense, knucklehead! I don’t care if it is a clean hit, I don’t want anybody laying their hands or shoulders or what have you on my stars. Especially when my biggest one of all is currently sidelined indefinitely due to the effects of being hit.

by matskralc on Dec 24, 2011 8:55 AM EST reply actions