The Winnipeg Jets were back in action on Sunday against one of the NHL’s worst teams, the Arizona Coyotes. Let’s find out how the game went…
Our hometown boys seemed to be ready to get started, as they completed dominated the early part of the game. Early success was had when Morrissey made an intelligent decision to dump the puck in hard off the back-boards, allowing Scheifele to skate onto the loose biscuit before cutting to the net to beat Arizona’s Ingram with a backhand move. With Winnipeg up 1-0 two minutes into the match, our squad continued to press for more goals, but the Coyotes were able to keep the game as it was (best chance was when Iafallo stepped out from behind the net, but couldn’t jam it by the Yotes’ tender). Arizona got the first PP of the game when Niederreiter made contact with the goaltender when trying to block his vision. This made the Coyotes go after Nino, but it was Lowry who stepped up and pummeled Kesselring in the resulting bout. The visitors’ got their own revenge on the man-advantage when a cross-crease pass was allowed by the PKers. Hellebuyck made an amazing save as he flew across the crease, but the rebound found an uncovered Yote (Schmaltz) in the slot for an easy marker. Shortly after, Vilardi was pulled down as he was battling in front of the net and the Jets capitalized on yet another powerplay. This time, Scheifele had the puck in the left face-off circle before sending it to Vilardi net-side, allowing the winger to make a 1-time pass to Connor in the bumper spot for his 22nd goal on the season. The Coyotes started to pick up their intensity, but faltered when Guenther was flagged for a pick on DeMelo in the offensive zone. Once again, Winnipeg’s powerplay came up big in a near repeat of their first PPG. This time when Scheifele sent to the puck low to Vilardi, he didn’t send the pass to the bumper, but rather made a fantastic forehand-backhand move to step into the crease and beat the goalie. Arizona received a late PP chance and once again solved the PKers with a cross-crease pass, but our Bucky was once again there to make a huge save. MoneyPuck’s shot chart shows the Jets had some prime looks, but the Coyotes had 2 great looks against Winnipeg’s penalty killers.
First Period MoneyPuck Stats: Score: 3 to 1 for the Jets, shots 14 to 10 for the Jets, 66.5% Deserve To Win for the Coyotes, Expected Goals – all situations (1.29-0.89 ARZ), & 5 on 5 (0.67-0.33 WPG)
Winnipeg had a prime chance to add to their lead in the 2nd when Ehlers sprung Lowry on a breakaway. The captain’s attempt at a 5 hole goal entered the tunnel, but couldn’t make it all the way through before Ingram closed the gates. The Coyotes turned up the pressure and Hellebuyck had to make a couple top-notch saves, but Winnipeg was stuck defending their zone for a long shift. Scheifele tried to pressure the defenseman to end the shift, but he didn’t get enough support and this eventually allowed Maccelli to escape DeMelo’s notice at the side of the net. The young forward had no problem taping the puck into an empty net when a cross-ice pass broke the Jets defensive coverage. While Arizona was the hungrier team at this point of the game, Winnipeg did have a couple chances to add to their lead (great passing play by the top line saw Vilardi stoned from the slot & another PP that had puck control but couldn’t get any shots through the defense’s blocks). The Coyotes had a great chance to make it a closer match when Maccelli got another look from the side of the net, but Bucky sprawled spead eagle on the ice and used his pad to deny a couple shots. Just as the period was about to end, the Jets were sprung on a 2 on 1, but Scheifele couldn’t capitalize on Connor’s pass across. See the prime scoring chances Winnipeg was giving up on the shot chart below.
After Two Periods MoneyPuck Stats: Score: 3 to 2 for the Jets, shots 25 to 20 for the Jets, 66.5% Deserve to Win for the Coyotes, Expected Goals – all situations (2.37-1.66 ARZ) & 5 on 5 (1.41-1.32 ARZ)
Things couldn’t have gone worse for Winnipeg in the early 3rd, as Niederreiter became undecisive behind his own net, allowing the Coyotes’ forecheck to steal the puck. A quick pass to another uncovered Arizona player in front of Hellebuyck saw the Jets’ lead disappear and the visitor’s had all the momentum. While the Yotes controlled the puck, our squad did have a couple looks to regain the lead (great zone entry by Ehlers allowed him to hit Namestnikov with a pass in the slot). Despite spending the majority of the time playing defense, Winnipeg didn’t allow a huge number of high danger scoring chances in the rest of the period, though Hellebuyck still needed to come up big on occasion. With the game needing overtime for a decision, here’s how MoneyPuck saw the game before the extra frame.
After Three Periods MoneyPuck Stats: Score: 3 to 3 tie, shots 31 to 31 tie, 75% Deserve to Win for the Coyotes, Expected Goals – all situations (3.20-1.94 ARZ) & 5 on 5 (2.24-1.60 ARZ)
For the second straight OT period, Winnipeg lost the opening draw, allowing Arizona to start with possession. Defenseman Moser wound up from his defensive end and started flying up the middle of the ice. Poor defensive coverage allowed the d-man to split the last 2 men back and he had a glorious chance right in on Hellebuyck. Once again, our Vezina-caliber goalie kept the puck out of his net with a fantastic save and this allowed Winnipeg to break out on a 3 on 1 rush of their own. Scheifele skated the puck up the left wing before dropping it to the trailing Morrissey (see picture below).
With that set up, Morrissey did the obvious and sent a pass to Connor for a 1 timer that Ingram couldn’t get across the crease fast enough to stop. Back to back OT winners is exciting…..against bottom dwelling franchises less so.
After OT MoneyPuck Stats: 73% Deserve to Win for the Coyotes, Expected Goals – all situations (3.36-2.01 ARZ) & 5 on 5 (2.24-1.60 ARZ)
FINAL SCORE: WINNIPEG JETS 4 ARIZONA COYOTES 3 OT
SHOTS: WINNIPEG JETS 32 ARIZONA COYOTES 32
Game Observations:
- The Winnipeg Jets played a great 1st period and then just barely hung on for the remainder of the game. All of a sudden it’s the Jets powerplay that is carrying the squad, while their play at even strength has been much less impressive.
- Two goals for Kyle Connor on the night, while Gabriel Vilardi (G/A), Josh Morrissey (3A), and Mark Scheifele (G/3A) also chipped in offensively.
- Other players who played well in the game included Connor Hellebuyck (.906% & 0.36 Goals Saved Above Average), Adam Lowry (good fight and more failed scoring chances), & Nikolaj Ehlers (probably best Jet in the 3rd).
- Only Winnipeg’s 2nd line won the expected goal battle at 5 on 5 (71.2%), with the rest between 36.3% & 25.2%.
- Both Lowry and Rasmus Kupari were strong at the dot, winning 66.7% and 60% respectively.
Yet another game where the Jets disappointed their fans after such a promising start to a game. This issue needs to be rectified before the playoffs roll around. On a better note, the powerplay continued playing well without the ill Sean Monahan being in the lineup.
NEXT GAME: St. Louis Blues @ Winnipeg Jets– Tuesday, February 27th @ 7:00 pm Central
Next up is yet another Central Division clash against the St. Louis Blues. Hopefully the better quality of opponent will result in the Winnipeg Jets stepping up their games. See you all back here on Tuesday.
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