Recap:
In the nth straight must win game the Winnipeg Jets kept things interesting in a back and forth battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler each had 3 points in the the first two periods to give the Jets a solid 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd. However, ex-Moose Pierre-Cedric Labrie and Steven Stamkos scored in the 3rd to send the game into overtime. After a scoreless five minutes of 4 on 4 Ondrej Pavelec was perfect in the shootout, and Mike Santorelli and Andrew Ladd were able to score to extend the Jets winning streak to 4 games.
Ten Thoughts:
A big offensive night for Andrew Ladd. The first goal was Ladd's on a wristshot that beat Ben Bishop between the legs. On the second goal, Ladd made a great play outworking Victor Hedman and get the puck to Blake Wheeler, who out-waited Bishop. On the third goal, Ladd channeled his inner Evander Kane with a beautiful move to the inside and toe drag wrist shot.
Despite Ondrej Pavelec falling below the goaltending Mendoza line once again, I thought he had a solid game. He made a nice save on Vincent Lecavalier towards the end of the 1st period.
The third line of Alexander Burmistov, Mike Santorelli and Eric Tangradi played a solid game. Combined they had 10 shots on net.
Both Lightning players made the same move in the shootout. Surprisingly, neither one chose to challenge Pavelec's notoriously weak glove hand.
Did I say promise 10 thoughts? How many am I up to now?
Aaron Gagnon played 9 plus minutes including some icetime on the penalty kill. I can't say he or the other two 4th liners Chris Thorburn or James Wright looked noticeably bad.
For now it appears the Olli Jokinen on the point experiment is over on the powerplay. Grant Clitsome played alongside Dustin Byfuglien.
The Jets nearly had a 4-1 lead in the 2nd when Grant Clitsome's goal was waived off because of a questionable goaltender interference call on Andrew Ladd.
Fate was almost unbelievably cruel to the Jets when Stamkos barely missed giving the Lightning a 4-3 win late in the 3rd on a play that was easily off side.
Unfortunately, the out of town scoreboard did not do us any favours. The Washington Capitals beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1, and the New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers 5-2. The only good news was the Philadelphia Flyers beating the New York Rangers 4-2. Unless one of these teams starts loosing it won't matter how many wins the Jets close out the season with.
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