Game 17 @ Chicago: Montoya and Entries

10 years ago

For how well the Jets came together as a group in the absence of Evander Kane on Monday, they clearly missed him on Wednesday night. Entering Chicago’s zone truly became a struggle.

Zone Entries

5 vs 5	Player	# of successful entries	Shots (From Entries)	Shots/Entry	Controlled Entries	Shots (Controlled Entries)	% With Control	Failed entries
2	Pardy	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	0
7	Ellerby	1	0	0.00	0	0	0%	0
12	Jokinen	5	4	0.80	3	1	60%	1
14	Peluso	1	0	0.00	0	0	0%	0
15	Halischuk	4	0	0.00	2	0	50%	0
16	Ladd	10	5	0.50	7	4	70%	1
17	Wright	3	3	1.00	0	0	0%	1
18	Little	3	1	0.33	2	1	67%	0
22	Thorburn	2	0	0.00	1	0	50%	0
24	Clitsome	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	0
26	Wheeler	5	1	0.20	3	1	60%	0
27	Tangradi	6	3	0.50	3	3	50%	0
33	Byfuglien	3	1	0.33	2	1	67%	0
39	Enstrom	1	0	0.00	0	0	0%	0
40	Setoguchi	4	4	1.00	2	2	50%	0
44	Bogosian	1	0	0.00	1	0	100%	0
55	Scheifele	4	1	0.25	4	1	100%	0
67	Frolik	5	3	0.60	2	2	40%	1
	TEAM	58	26	0.45	32	16	55%	4
	OPP	71	26	0.37	42	19	59%	7
	OZF	13	4	0.31
	DZF	15	4	0.27

Observations

Once again we see that Chicago built up a lead, then simply played around with the puck in the Jets’ end of the ice. The managed 13 more entries (10 of which were controlled) than the Jets did on the game, followed by players like Patrick Kane dancing around the majority of a defeated Jets team that really seemed to mail it in late.
I thought Eric Tangradi did a decent job of at least attempting to create something all night. He was one of the more effective Jets at getting the puck deep into Chicago’s end (half the time by carrying it), and seemed to at least be somewhat of a threat.
Ladd played well again. Although he was ridiculously out-chanced, he did manage to get entries and shots throughout most of the game. It’s not often things turn out the way they did on this night, so I would expect his chance numbers to improve quite drastically if he can maintain his play of late.
Michael Frolik was an effective neutral zone guy once again on the night. I really hope the Jets don’t underestimate what they have in this guy. If Scheifele is going to stay and develop on the third line, Michael Frolik will be a major factor in his growth and long term development.
As I mentioned in my scoring chance article, Dustin Byfuglien has clearly been trying to create this a little bit more lately. Although it has resulted in some glaring problems, I am interpreting this as a player who wants to start winning. I believe he is taking his goalless drought very personally, and is doing everything in his power to end it. Unfortunately, right now that is a detriment to the team.
You could tell simply from watching the game, but the numbers really do show that the Jets gave up their blue line way too easily. A 59% controlled entry rate is ridiculously high, especially in a game that the Jets should have been seeing a lot more “dumping to kill time” from a team up by three.

Montoya Performance

I thought Al Montoya actually played pretty good in this game. He kept the Jets in it throughout the second period, and I only really did not like the fourth goal he gave up. You can almost guarantee that Noel and company will look only at the 4 goals in their evaluation of him and stick to Pavelec as per usual, but I think he’s done a good enough job to at least force them to consider him as a regular option.

Goal	Situation	Why It Went In	Where It Went
1	Sustained Pressure	Beat Clean	Five Hole
2	Average Play (Controlled ZE)	Traffic	Glove Hand
3	Breakaway	Beat Clean	Glove Hand
4	Turnover	Beat Clean (Montoya Fault)	Blocker Side

Quick Explanations

After a fantastic save on a completely wide open Patrick Kane, the Jets fail to clear the puck and completely forget about Jonathan Toews. He moves right in the middle of four Jets, takes the puck, and slides it under a hopeless Montoya.

Rather than attempting to make things difficult for Patrick Kane, the Jets all decide to “Hainsey” it, and back off to their own net. This allows Kane time to wait for traffic to build, and then rip one past a completely screened Montoya for the goal.

In an attempt to create a turnover (I would assume), Dustin Byfuglien leaves his position and goes across the ice to create pressure. Obviously, this backfires terribly and sends Brandon Pirri in alone on Montoya. Al comes out the best he can to challenge, but Pirri fires a near perfect shot top corner, that no goaltender would have been able to stop.

Despite the turnover, I’m not a fan of this goal on Montoya. Sharp takes a couple strides off the boards and shoots short side, in an area that I think Montoya has to stop. He fails though, and the ‘Hawks take a 4-0 lead on what was already a dead Jets team.

Things to Watch For

The Jets take on Nashville again tonight, and look to improve on their pitiful 2-7-1 record against Central Division opponents. Here are some things to look for in a game that I have a bit of a feeling could decide Claude’s job.

How will Evander respond? I’d be shocked in Evander Kane doesn’t come out flying after sitting out the last couple games. With all the usual garbage floating around about his attitude for saying he was healthy on Wednesday, Evander has to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and I would think that will only add fuel to the fire inside of this guy.
Who will finish in net? Although it hasn’t been stated, I am almost certain Pavelec will get the net back tonight. The real question will be if he manages to stay there. Nashville has been putting the puck in the net as of late, and has already shown the Jets a thing or two this season. With Al Montoya (hopefully) showing Claude that he is fully capable, there is a chance that Pavelec’s leash is much shorter than it used to be.
Will the “power play” do anything? Shockingly, the Jets still don’t have the worst power play in the league. Yet, it is still dreadful. We can only hope that they get at least a shot or two on the PP tonight against Nashville’s 20th ranked PK. That being said, the Jets couldn’t manage a chance against the league’s worst penalty kill Wednesday in Chicago, so I’m not holding my breath.

Final Thought

Word just leaked that the Florida Panthers have fired their coach Kevin Dineen, meaning a couple teams now have relieved their bench boss of his duties already this season. Will the Jets be next? I’m really starting to hope so.