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Recap: Jackets Outgun Jets in OT

For the second night in a row, the Winnipeg Jets (4-3-2) fell by a 2-1 score in overtime, this time to the Columbus Blue Jackets (7-3-0)

Despite having played last night, the Jets came out with a lot of energy in this one, outshooting the Jackets 11-2 at one point. During that initial surge, the Jets grabbed the lead, as Brandon Tanev snapped a shot that squeaked through Sergei Bobrovsky to sit behind him in the crease. Tanev used his speed to get to it first and tap it in for his second of the year. The Jets had three power plays in the period, that were each nowhere near dangerous enough. Rallying after three successful penalty kills the Blue Jackets pushed back to bring the shot total to 12-10 in favour of Winnipeg after one.

The inept Jets power play got another opportunity 1:52 into the second, but was inept so nothing happened. Did I mention it was inept? The Jackets got their first chance with the extra man after a pick/collision involving Shawn Matthias. The Jackets were unable to capitalize, but almost immediately got another opportunity following a Blake Wheeler high stick. The Jets killed off most of that penalty before Columbus took care of the rest by putting too many men out there, much to the chagrin of John Tortorella. the Jets once again did nothing with the extra man. Bryan Little took a high sticking penalty, but the Jets had the best opportunity, with Blake Wheeler getting a back-handed opportunity on a partial breakaway, but Sergeant Bobrovsky was on the case. The second period ended with the same scoreline as the first, with Columbus leading ni the shot department 23-19.

Blake Wheeler brought down his man 3:23 into the third, but the also inept Jackets power play failed to score on this chance as well. After a bit of ho-hum hockey, Columbus tied it up after Cam Atkinson whacked a puck into the net that Nikolaj Ehlers had just knocked out of the air 10 feet in front of Steve Mason, ending the shutout bid with 9:37 left. After the refs were blind and missed a blatant Brendan Lemieux boarding call, they caught the retaliatory roughing from David Savard to give the Jets yet another chance with the extra man with 5:44 to go. Despite playing on tired legs, and getting badly outshot, the Jets managed to get to the end of regulation, with some late flashes of life from Ehlers and Scheifele. Overtime for the second night in a row.

Sergei Bobrovsky robbed Blake Wheeler with a ten-bell save with 2:58 left in OT. That proved to be huge, as Steve Mason dropped his stick and while in the process of him picking it up, Josh Anderson threw the puck to the net and ended it.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

4:52 EV WPG 13 Brandon Tanev (2) Anassisted

2nd Period

Nothin’

3rd Period

10:23 EV CBJ 13 Cam Atkinson (4) Assist: 3 Seth Jones (6)

Overtime –

2:38 EV CBJ 77 Josh Anderson (3) Unassisted

Goalies –

WPG 35 Steve Mason 35/37 .946 62:28 (0-3-1 .892 SV%)

CBJ 72 Sergei Bobrovsky 29/30 .967 62:38 (6-2-0 .938 SV%)

Power Play

Winnipeg Jets – 0/6 (4/31 – 12.9%)

Columbus Blue Jackets – 0/4 (3/28 – 10.7%)

10 Thoughts:

  1. Patrik Laine appears to be trying to do too much, and is getting away from fundamentals that made him successful last year. Attempts at beating opponents one-on-one are not coming close to working.
  2. The Jets power play was abysmal. Just horrid. Blech. 0 for 6 on the night, following an 0 for 2 performance last night. Now 4 for 31 on the year.
  3. Luckily for the Jets, the Blue Jackets power play is actually worse on the season.
  4. The top line and pairing of Jacob Trouba and Joshua Morrissey had brutal games from an analytics point of view. Hopefully they rest up and bounce back on Sunday against the Penguins.
  5. Brandon Tanev scored in a very “yea, Brandon Tanev would score that kind of goal” way, beating his check with speed to get to a loose puck and bang in a goal in a dirty area.
  6. Steve Mason played his best game as a Winnipeg Jet
  7. Penalty kill came in 22/29, left 26/33 (78.8%). So that’s an improvement.
  8. Zach Werenski is going to be sad that he doesn’t get to play Winnipeg again, as he was a dominant force in both game. The second year defender is quickly becoming one of the best in the game. That Seth Jones guy is okay too.
  9. The Jets slowly ran out of gas in this one, which was to be expected after an overtime effort last night. Two points out of this back-to-back is not anything to sniff at though.
  10. Rest day for the Jets tomorrow before hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday.
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