You have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good. The Winnipeg Jets were the latter in game one of their playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers. They looked like the team that was not as ready outside of the first period, but they still won. They got lucky and scored more goals. The Oilers were unable to capitalize on their chances and Connor Hellebuyck was the better goalie. If they can do this for three more games, we will be talking about the second round (and hopefully better times for games).
Ten Thoughts
- Neal Pionk has a history of holding Connor McDavid in check. He definitely brought it in the first period and the strange battle continues. He just has a way with stopping McDavid when he is on. The game of cat and mouse begins.
- Mark Scheifele is probably not the right person to match up against McDavid. Early on in the game and he was already flying the zone early. Not ideal when stopping McDavid is a team effort.
- Connor Hellebuyck seems to be game ready. The extra days off were probably ideal for the goalie who played the most minutes in the NHL and if I recall correctly, saw a high number of shots as well.
- The Oilers really turned it on for the second period. They came out on another gear and the Jets could not keep up with them. The Jets just could not keep up at all.
- Jesse Puljujarvi is the most likeable Oiler for many reasons. He came back to the NHL with the right mindset and embraced what Dave Tippett told him. His enthusiasm is infectious. And the Edmonton media tried to kick him while he was down, but he has served them just desserts. Oh, and he has an adorable puppy.
- The Jets were able to get the game back to even because of what I like to call The Mike Smith Equalizer. Dude just remains Mike Smith. Tonight Tucker Poolman was the beneficiary which is not something I would ever consider writing unless there was a blue moon.
- This Oilers are outplaying the Jets and while the Jets have closed the gap, Connor Hellebuyck remains the biggest difference maker for the Jets and it isn’t even close.
- Raise your hand if you have Logan Stanley and Dominic Toninato combining for a goal. No, put your hand down because no one had them combining for a goal except maybe their families. But the two of them came together for a goal that was in and out of the net so fast we got the horn of doom for Toronto.
- The Edmonton Oilers were horrid with the goalie pulled and it only brings joy.
- This is the most pessimistic recap you will get after a win and if the Jets win on Friday it will be less pessimistic. But I cannot exactly see how the Jets can win four games when they were by far the worst team on the ice. So pessimism is the name of the game.
