Game 39 at Edmonton: Pavelec Performance Tracker and Neutral Zone Play

10 years ago

So how was everyone’s Christmas? Mine was fantastic, except for the constant thought in the back of my mind that I would eventually have to touch back on this "game" once more before finally moving on from it.

Zone Entries

5 vs 5	Player	# of successful entries	Shots (From Entries)	Shots/Entry	Controlled Entries	Shots (With Control)	Shots / Controlled	% With Control
2	Pardy	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A
5	Stuart	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A
8	Trouba	2	0	0.00	2	0	0.00	100%
9	Kane	12	8	0.67	8	5	0.63	67%
12	Jokinen	3	3	1.00	2	3	1.50	67%
14	Peluso	1	0	0.00	0	0	N/A	0%
16	Ladd	3	2	0.67	1	0	0.00	33%
17	Wright	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A
18	Little	4	0	0.00	2	0	0.00	50%
22	Thorburn	2	0	0.00	1	0	0.00	50%
26	Wheeler	5	1	0.20	3	1	0.33	60%
33	Byfuglien	3	0	0.00	1	0	0.00	33%
39	Enstrom	2	1	0.50	0	0	N/A	0%
40	Setoguchi	7	5	0.71	2	1	0.50	29%
44	Bogosian	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A
55	Scheifele	4	2	0.50	3	2	0.67	75%
58	O’Dell	3	5	1.67	1	1	1.00	33%
67	Frolik	8	2	0.25	4	2	0.50	50%
	JETS	59	29	0.49	30	15	0.50	51%
	OPP	61	25	0.41	28	17	0.61	46%
	OZF	14	4	0.29
	DZF	12	5	0.42

Observations

So the Jets finally decided to carry the puck into the zone an average amount in this game, and had a below average game (for them) in shots/controlled entry. I’m still just frustrated about this game, so take that how you want. This team makes no sense, and their lack of consistent play is just infuriating.
Kane and Setoguchi had decent games in the neutral zone, but when you’re getting blown out you have to take numbers like this with a grain of salt.
As per usual, offensive zone face offs generated almost nothing, the defensemen weren’t able to help at all, and Chris Thorburn is a useless shlub. Not much else to say anymore.
On a side note, Blake Wheeler said something after the game that I think really highlighted how little Claude Noel knows about his own team. When he was asked about the “dump and chase” model the team plays, Wheeler said that, “We (the team) don’t create a lot off the rush”. Um, false. He sounded anything but convinced when he said it, and I have no doubt in my mind that this is what the players are being sold. The problem is he is completely wrong. Pretty much every team ever is capable of generating more offense when they carry the puck across the blue line, and the Jets are actually better than average when they do carry the puck in. To me, this just further displays how poorly this team is being run.

Pavelec Performance

I have a lot of issues with Pavelec following this game. Not necessarily his play, but him as a player. I think most people would agree that Ondrej Pavelec is anything but a top level goaltender. His numbers have been poor, and I would argue that at times his play alone has cost the Jets both games, and potentially playoff position. He in no way deserves to criticize the play in front of him. Yet when things aren’t going well, as happened against the Oilers, Pavelec displays some of the worst body language on the team. He lies out of the ice, smashes his stick, and just looks to be disgusted with the players in front of him. There was even a moment when he lost his stick and when Bogosian handed him his (as a defenseman normally should), he looked at it in disgust and shook his head in disapproval, rather than sucking it up and continuing playing. The TSNJets broadcast even started to talk about how Pavelec has the right to occasionally go into the room and tear player’s heads off because of the play in front of him. That’s ridiculous. I don’t recall any situation in which a Jet has called out their goaltender despite how poorly he has played in the past, yet Pav is very open to showing his anger. It’s ridiculous and unacceptable.

Goal	Situation	Why It Went In	Where It Went
1	Jets Penalty Kill	Out of Position	Right Pad
2	Sustained Pressure	Beat Clean	Left Pad
3	Average Play (Dump and Chase)	Beat Clean (Pavelec)	Five Hole
4	Sustained Pressure	Beat Clean	Open Net
5	Jets Penalty Kill	No Chance	Glove Hand
6	Odd Man Rush	Beat Clean	Blocker

Quick Explanations

When you watch the slowed down version of this goal, you see how slow Pavelec was to react to this goal. He didn’t even get across his crease in an attempt to stop the puck. It wasn’t a great defensive play, but there was barely an attempt at a save either. Did he have the awareness to know Eberle was there? Blame is split here.

You probably shouldn’t let a guy go untouched right up the middle of the ice. Pavelec was slow to react again, but that was pretty bad.

The Jets were caught puck watching on this goal, and that’s bad. BUT. I again hate how slow Pavelec was to react to this puck. It very slowly slides in front of him, but he doesn’t move, and barely reacts until the Oiler player touches it. If he is proactive at all, I bet he makes this save. Therefore, I’m putting more blame on Pavelec here. React to the puck, and this is prevented.

Sustained pressure, bad bounce, no reaction, open net goal.

I feel bad for Trouba on this play. The odds of Nugent-Hopkins knocking that puck perfectly out of the air again are ridiculously low. Nobody was ready for this, a skilled player in Taylor Hall was wide open at the side of the net, and Pav had no real chance. He probably shouldn’t have been a cry baby on the ice afterwards though.

This goal really sums the game up nicely. Yuck.

Things to Watch For

You know a perfect way to bounce back after a bad game? Well, it’s not what the Jets have coming. A tough match up against what will likely also be an angry Minnesota team (they have struggled on their current road trip going 0-3-0), who the Jets are yet to beat this year and who are welcoming back their stand out goaltender in Josh Harding. I’m sure it will be a really fun and ever-so exciting typical Western Conference game at the MTS Centre tonight. Here are some things to watch for:

What will the lineup look like? I’m sure things will change a bit after the debacle in Edmonton, but I am done with trying to predict what Noel will do. I’m sure I’ll hate it.
What’s going on with the defensemen? Grant Clitsome was placed on the IR over the break, meaning he must have one heck of an illness right now. Yet, despite having a load of capable defensemen around, they still called up Melchiori. Is someone else hurt? Is a trade looming? It’s something to keep an eye on.
Will O’Dell get a real chance? Every once in a while Noel throws Eric O’Dell on the line with Jokinen and Setoguchi. I thought he has looked good in those opportunities, but Noel refuses to remove Thorburn from that line permanently. It’s ridiculous.

Final Thought

We are quickly approaching the midway point of the year, and I think it’s safe to say this team has been disappointing. Kevin Cheveldayoff and company need to look at what they have right now and start making decisions. There is no point in waiting for the end of the year and allowing the market to become saturated. Be proactive, and do something. Please.