The Winnipeg Jets opened their regular season with a trip to Boston to face the Bruins.
Ten Thoughts:
1. The first period was ugly, but the world didn't come to an end despite many such concerns on Twitter.
2. Among the ugliest plays of the opening frame was the Bruins first goal 0f the season. Ben Chiarot got caught flat footed and lost the puck right infront of his own net. David Krejci capitalized to make it 1-0.
3. Later in the frame there was more potential for ugly. Alexander Burmistrov put on his goon hat and took a penalty for a high hit on Patrice Bergeron. Twitter blew up calling the play dirty and it may have been, but I don't anticipate the league doing much. Burmi doesn't have a violent pass, he didn't jump and he didn't really extend his elbow.
4. The second period brought some better better play than the first with the Jets carrying more play and piling up a trio of goals by Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Drew Stafford.
5. The Scheifele goal was the product of a wicked release off the rush. The other two goals came after some nice offensive zone puck possession and quality forechecking. This year's team is built to be a pain in the ass along the walls – even the little guys have phenomenal puck skills that allow the to keep the puck down low.
6. Nic Petan flashed this ability early and often, despite rarely stepping foot on the ice. Petan played just 5:50 through two periods, which is a full minute more than his linemates. Just hate to see the rookies playing so little. Luckily for Petan, 4th line assignments can give way to greater opportunity. Injuries (Lowry already had a scare) or suspensions (if the league things the Burmi hit warrants one) can change things in a hurry. Scoring goals always helps a player’s case. With a little more ice in the 3rd, Petan was in the right place at the right time. He took a feed, from fellow rookie Andrew Copp, off the skates and into the net.
7. Speaking of the 4th line, Petan’s linemate scored a beautiful goal, Chris Thorburn, scored a beautiful goal (sort of). Thorburn was in alone on a breakaway. Krejci chased him down and knocked the puck off his stick. Fortunately for the Jets, Krejci chipped it pack his own goalie.
8. Luck was definitely on the Jets’ side tonight and it wasn’t just about Petan and Thor. Alexander Burmistrov also scored a goal on the most improbable fashion. Late in the game with Tuukka Rask pulled, Burmi banked a backhand clearing attempt off the glass and all the way down the ice for an empty netter goal. While the goal was definitely lucky it came as a byproduct of some great work by the third line. That line played some nice possession hockey and combined to score three goals (Thorburn was taking a shift after Lowry got dinged when he scored). If they can continue to play tough against quality opposition and chop in offensively, they will add stability to the bottom six.
9. Another member of that 3rd line, Drew Stafford had himself a nice night. He was smart with the puck and his goal was really nice. He took the puck from his skate to his stick and tapped around a sprawling Rask.
10. Nikolaj Ehlers didn’t find the scoreboard, but he did find many scoring chances. Ehlers was dangerous often, led the team in shots and was okay or better defensively. Lots to like about this kid.
11. In the end, Pavelec may not have been the difference, but he played a quality game tonight and he was one of just a few strong players through the first 20. Gotta love that!
The Jets return to action tomorrow in New Jersey. Puck drops at 6:00. What do you expect to see tomorrow? What did you make of tonight's showing?
