Well, still dealing with the back issue and trying to get a full day of work in today, so it’s another abbreviated game recap for your enjoyment.
Last night’s game versus the San Jose Sharks started out with the two teams feeling each other out and not getting many scoring opportunities in the opening minutes. Eventually the Winnipeg Jets started to take control of the puck and began to test the Sharks’ Blackwood with shot after shot. Niederreiter sent a pass from behind the net to find Appleton for a 1 timer (shown by the big circle in SJ’s crease) and then Ehlers had a glorious chance from the low slot (the other big circle in the chart below, with a period high 21.7% chance of scoring). The Sharks weren’t without offensive chances, but for the most part the Jets did a great job in containing them (Schmidt takes the body to end a SJ rush and Pionk wins a battle against two Sharks along the defensive boards to allow a zone exit). San Jose’s best chance came late in the period when Hellebucyk had to come up big to stop a Hertl 1 timer. The shot chart from MoneyPuck shows Winnipeg’s dominance of the 1st period well.
First Period MoneyPuck Stats: Score: 0 to 0 tie, shots 11 to 6 for the Jets, 73.5% Deserve To Win for the Jets, Expected Goals – all situations (1.14-0.23 WPG), & 5 on 5 (1.14-0.23 WPG)
The Sharks came out of the intermission with much more pace and began to even out the puck possession numbers. Hellebuyck had to make some quality stops to keep the game scoreless (Zadina on a rush and shot, plus a cross-ice pass to set up a Granlund 1 timer) and good shifts by the Namestnikov & Lowry lines couldn’t find a way to give Winnipeg the lead. San Jose got the 1st PP of the game and they almost got a puck behind Bucky, but a great reaction blocker save and a post kept the game scoreless. The Sharks weren’t ready to give up and kept the pressure up post-PK and Eklund raced up the left wing before setting up Barabanov for a 1 timer from the low slot that slipped between Hellebuyck’s pads (see biggest teal circle in the shot chart below). Rick Bowness tapped the 4th line to respond for the Jets and they immediately went on the forecheck. Some great work by Toninato won the puck along the back boards, allowing Barron to send the puck back to the point and head for the net. After some defenseman to defenseman passing action, Pionk let a shot go and Barron was able to deflect it by Blackwood for his 8th of the season and tying the game just 1:21 after falling behind. Winnipeg picked up their pace again after the goal and tested the SJ goalie numerous times before the 2nd period ended, but couldn’t find a way to get the lead. MoneyPuck’s shot chart after 2 periods shows that the Jets are still looking like the better team heading into the final frame.
After Two Periods MoneyPuck Stats: Score: 1 to 1 tie, shots 16 to 16 tie, 73.5% Deserve to Win for the Jets, Expected Goals – all situations (1.81-0.77 WPG) & 5 on 5 (1.81-0.58 WPG)
The two franchises traded chances early in the 3rd, but a Morrissey block and a Perfetti shot sailing wide saved the goaltenders from making any saves. A great effort by Lowry saw him fly up the ice and split the defense to drive to the net. The defender ended up getting his stick in the captain’s hands, denying him a shot attempt but sending Winnipeg to the PP. Scheifele-Ehlers-Vilardi almost combined for a nice tic-tac-toe passing play, but a defensive stick stopped the “toe” portion from occurring. Scheifele then set up Iafallo for a 1 timer and Vilardi had a look from the net front. After a couple point shots sailed wide of the net, a great pass from Ehlers saw the puck go from the right point to the left net-side, making Vilardi go down on one knee to deflect the hard pass into the open net. The rare PP goal gave Winnipeg the lead with 17 minutes to play and despite giving the Sharks a PP chance on a lazy Scheifele backcheck, the Jets were able to keep San Jose from ruining the start of their road trip.
FINAL SCORE: WINNIPEG JETS 2 SAN JOSE SHARKS 1
SHOTS: WINNIPEG JETS 30 SAN JOSE SHARKS 28
Game Observations:
- MoneyPuck Stats: 68.8% Deserve to Win for the Jets, 2.91 to 1.82 in expected goals (all situations) for the Jets, and 1.97 to 1.42 in expected goals (5 on 5) for the Jets.
- The Winnipeg Jets now have gone 27 straight games without allowing 4 goals against and are now tied for 2nd in the NHL in points percentage (with the NY Rangers). Winnipeg’s 52 points projects to 115 on a full 82 game season. Pretty impressive stuff Jets.
- The team has also set a franchise-record by gaining at least one point in 10 straight matches.
- The 4th line continues to chip in offensively, with Morgan Barron adding his 8th goal of the season on one of their many cycle shifts. Dominic Toninato’s 4 game point streak came to an end, but he played a key forechecking role on that goal scoring shift.
- On the same day that Connor Hellebuyck was voted to the All Star game by the NHL, Winnipeg’s starting tender did what he typically does…turning aside 27 of 28 shots for a .964 save % and 0.81 Goals Saved Above Expected.
- I thought the entire Jets’ defensive core played fairly well last night. The defenders put up an impressive 15 shots for Winnipeg (led by Josh Morrissey’s 6), combined for 9 blocked shots (led by Dylan DeMelo’s 3), and assists for Brenden Dillon & Neal Pionk. The Dylan Samberg–Nate Schmidt pairing has ended up + or even in all of their games this season except three…nice work by the 3rd pairing.
- The Winnipeg Jets’ 91 goals against this season has them as the 2nd best defensive team in the NHL. The LA Kings are first with 83 GAs, but have played 3 less games so have to allow 7 or less in those matches to hold off the Jets.
Wasn’t the most exciting game to watch and not sure Bowness’ line changes in the top six were very effective, but Winnipeg came out with 2 points and are back at it again tonight.
NEXT GAME: Winnipeg Jets @ Anaheim Ducks – Friday, January 5th @ 9:00 pm Central
Another late game, but at least most of us can sleep in on Saturday after seeing how the Jets respond to seeing Ryan Strome again.
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