Not at all the result the Jets were going for tonight.
Sure you can point to the fact that 5 on 5 the Jets were the better team. But that would be ignoring the fact that the penalty kill stunk up to the place to the tune of allowing 3 goals on 3 chances. Just awful. Without those goals it's 3-2 Jets at even strength. Does that count for beans? Nope.
The Jets shot themselves in the foot early and often. They were down by 3 13 minutes into the game but managed to claw their way back into it to make it a contest worth watching. The Flames didn’t have to rely on depth scoring on this night, as Tanguay, Jokinen and Iggy had 10 points between them, while Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 42 of 45 shots the Jets threw on net. Hard to win when their goalie does that and Ondrej Pavelec allows 5 on 27 shots. Although one can point fingers at the penalty kill and Ron Hainsey sloppy defense that led to the puck repeatedly going behind Pavs on this night.
Some Jets played well tonight, and you’ll find that Toby Enstrom ended up with 2 points, a +2 and a “glorious third period goal”, while Blake Wheeler looked as dangerous as ever, while being more defensively responsible than Ron Hainsey most of the defensive core.
Game Stats and Thoughts from the Tarmac after THE JUMP
1st Period: 03:54 CGY Mark Giordano (7) PP (Olli Jokinen, Alex Tanguay); 06:47 CGY Jarome Iginla (28) PP (Olli Jokinen, Mark Giordano); 12:51 CGY Matt Stajan (4) (Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay); 17:31 WPG Evander Kane (27) (Bryan Little, Tobias Enstrom); 19:33 WPG Blake Wheeler (17) (Grant Clitsome, Mark Stuart)
2nd Period: 12:53 CGY Alex Tanguay (11) (Jarome Iginla, Matt Stajan)
3rd Period: 11:28 CGY Curtis Glencross (24) PP (Alex Tanguay, Olli Jokinen)
Shots: CGY 27 WPG 45
3 Star Selections: 1) Alex Tanguay 2) Jarome Iginla 3) Miikka Kiprusoff
Thoughts From The Tarmac
- The penalty kill was awful. Nothing more needs to be said on that subject
- Coach Claude Noel once again looked pissed in post game interview, actually cutting off questions early after being asked to gauge his level of disappointment. I can’t blame him. For a team that has played so very well at home, it’s a completely different story on the road and these two losses put a huge hurt on the chances of the Jets to make the playoffs. If I had to say with some conviction whether or not the Jets will make the playoffs, at this point it’s a resounding no. Even if Florida keeps playing poorly, and Washington keeps being Washington, I just don’t see the Jets getting enough out of the road games remaining to earn a spot in the post-season.
- Mark Flood logged 3 shifts for a total of 1:49 TOI as the Jets were fearful a lower body injury would be greatly detrimental to the team. He really wasn’t, as 27:31 TOI and 1 assist will point out. Flood’s highlight of the game was flicking the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty. Whoops
- Kipper looked good tonight, but really not THAT good. The Jets were not establishing net presence too much aside from the little skirmish that Jim Slater had with him in the second frame.
- Not bad offensively for the Jets, but stupid penalties (ANDREW LADD I’M LOOKING AT YOU)really hurt them far too often, as the penalty kill was unable to bail their teammates out when they made the trip to the sin bin
- Pavelec looked shaky early but improved as the night went on. Not bad for facing over 70 shots in 2 nights
- The boys have time to recover and regroup before playing Dallas at home on Wednesday. Zach Bogosian should make his return from a wrist injury in time for that game, if i am to believe the word out of Jets camp
- Toby had an absolute laser beam that got by Kipper, who seemed distracted by Tanner Glass performing the “migrating salmon” in front of him.
Until then, have a good weekend and
