After a solid first period the Jets
The first period was spectacular… For the first 19 minutes. Drew Stafford was able to break his cold streak by scoring after Dustin Byfuglien fired the puck and Pekka Rinne mishandled it. Unfortunately they fell completely apart with a minute to go when the Predators scored two goals in eleven(!!!!!) seconds. The first from Craig Smith, the second from Colton Sissons after the puck bounced off of Ben Chiarot and in.
Both teams traded penalties during the second and Drew Stafford had another incredible chance to score but was unable to score. This would have given him a hat trick after he rang one of the post earlier. Marko Dano was wrecked by Austin Watson after he nailed him right in the head and sent him crashing to the ice. Watson was given a game misconduct and the Jets were given a five minute power play to close out the period. They were unsuccessful in their ability to capitalize on this golden opportunity. Ondrej Pavelec certainly bailed them out late in the period with a terrific cross crease save with his pads.
Filip Forsberg was sprung for a breakaway after Byfuglien made a blind pass but Pavelec made another save to keep the game 2-1 for Nashville. More penalties would be called in the third with Ben Chiarot getting called for roughing. With twenty-five seconds left in the power play, James Neal would get called for tripping. However, the straw that broke the camel's back for the Jets was a downright awful call on Tyler Myers for interference after Pavelec was ran into once again by the Predators. Ryan Johansen would capitalize on the power play and make it 3-1 for Nashville. Not too long after the Jets would be given another power play and Jacob Trouba was able to bury it to put them back within one. This momentum would be short lived as Craig Smith would score again and that would be all she wrote as the Jets would fall 4-2 in their final game against Nashville for the season.
Assorted Musings
- Since the loss of Anthony Peluso, the fourth line has certainly improved. I sure hope this is a sign that the Jets would be willing to cut bait on Peluso next year and actually waive him.
- I was highly skeptical on Ben Chiarot's effectiveness as a defenseman after last year. Many praised his play but I felt as if it had more to do with Byfuglien being his partner than it had to do with him. I think it's safe to say my skepticism was well placed.
- During the second intermission, Gary Lawless talked about Scheifele's new contract and voiced his opinion that a long term deal would be the smart move and I can't say I disagree. I would be more than willing to give Mark Scheifele six years or more at six million per. That is the exact contract they offered Ladd and I believe that money is certainly better spent investing in a player who has undeniably seized the the first line centre role on the team. Some may think a bridge deal would be smarter but I think it is actually more risky. The odds that Mark Scheifele further improves are very high in my opinion, and if that happens, six million may go up to seven or maybe even eight million per year, and we all know how much the Jets love saving money.
What were your thoughts on the game? Do you agree with Lawless' opinion on Scheifele? Leave them below in the comment section!
