Game 64 vs. LA Kings: Pavelec Performance & Neutral Zone Play

10 years ago

Oh no Toby 🙁

It’s pretty difficult to win hockey games when you spend so
much of it in your own end. The Jets had
their chances to move the puck down the ice and attack the Kings, but they were
simply shut down, out possessed, and simply out classed.

Zone Entries

5 vs 5	Player	Total Entries	Shots (From Entries)	Shots/Entry	Controlled Entries	Shots (From Control)	Shots/ Controlled	% With Control
2	Pardy	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A
5	Stuart	2	0	0.00	0	0	N/A	0%
7	Ellerby	0	0	N/A	0	0	N/A	N/A
8	Trouba	3	2	0.67	3	2	0.67	100%
9	Kane	14	6	0.43	9	3	0.33	64%
12	Jokinen	3	1	0.33	0	0	N/A	0%
14	Peluso	1	0	0.00	0	0	N/A	0%
15	Halischuk	4	4	1.00	2	3	1.50	50%
16	Ladd	8	1	0.13	6	1	0.17	75%
18	Little	3	0	0.00	1	0	0.00	33%
19	Slater	2	0	0.00	0	0	N/A	0%
26	Wheeler	6	4	0.67	3	4	1.33	50%
27	Tangradi	2	0	0.00	1	0	0.00	50%
33	Byfuglien	3	0	0.00	2	0	0.00	67%
39	Enstrom	2	0	0.00	0	0	N/A	0%
40	Setoguchi	2	0	0.00	2	0	0.00	100%
44	Bogosian	2	1	0.50	0	0	N/A	0%
67	Frolik	1	0	0.00	1	0	0.00	100%
	JETS	58	19	0.33	30	13	0.43	52%
	OPP	61	38	0.62	33	25	0.76	54%
	OZF	15	7	0.47
	DZF	12	0	0.00

Observations

The Jets problem in this game was not directly the neutral
zone play. After all, they managed to
get the puck into the Kings zone close to the same number of times as it came
back and they carried it in more often than not. The problem arose with what each team was
able to do once they actually got the puck into the zone. The Kings cycled, moved the puck, and created
shots and chances. The Jets…did not. To
say they were lacking chemistry and fluency throughout their lineup would be an
understatement, but you can’t take anything away from a solid Kings team
defensively.
Apparently I need to say this again. Kane and Jokinen do not
work together. Byfuglien didn’t help
much either. Kane is way too fast and
just plays too differently from either player for that line to work. Even on the goal they produced, Kane was in
on the play way before Jokinen was. They
were just able to capitalize on a bit of a breakdown in front of the net. Maurice eventually realized the lines weren’t
working as the game went on, and tried to swap Byfuglien and Wheeler. That’s great, but Kane has sown in the past
that he simply cannot be productive when he is with Olli Jokinen. Separate them
Paul. Separate them now.
Need more proof? Despite Evander’s team leading 14 entries
throughout the game, that line was the worst possession line on the team. I’m
honestly not even sure how that is possible.
The Ladd – Little – Wheeler grouping ended up looking like
they did early on this year. A decent
number of entries, but production only coming from one of the trio. That player of course was Blake Wheeler, who
strangely was then removed from the other two in an attempt to shake things
up. I think this further exemplifies my
thoughts on this coaching decision.
Similar to the top two lines, the Jets third line was stuck
working with only one effective player.
Shockingly, it wasn’t usually reliable Michael Frolik. Matt Halischuk of all people had a decent
game, but I think the miniscule production and horrid possession stats for the
Halischuk – Frolik – Setoguchi line make it a full sweep of “what the eff were
you think?” in regards to these lines.
There was no chemistry whatsoever the whole way through.

Pavelec Performance

The Jets poor possession numbers led to a LOT of Kings shots
throughout the game. Pavelec handled
himself pretty well throughout the night, but I’m hesitant to go as far as some
and say he was “spectacular”. Regardless
he has played well recently, so credit where credit is due. Let’s see how long he can maintain it this
time.

Goal	Situation	Why It Went In	Where It Went
1	Average Play (Controlled ZE)	Beat “Clean”	Five Hole
2	Turnover	Beat Clean	Glove Hand
3	Penalty Kill	Beat Clean (Pavelec)	Blocker Side

Quick Explanations

That was a heck of a pass by Jarret Stoll, but no five-hole
goal is ever a “good” five-hole goal. You have to squeeze the pads.

Ewwwww Toby, that was
bad. There is no real forgiving of that
turnover, but it’s a situation that you really wish your goalie could bail you
out. I know it’s hard to ask more of
Pavelec in games like this one, but an elite goaltender is able to make that
huge save following a defenders mistake.
We don’t see it often from Pav at all. Most of his “big” saves come
following his recovery from poor positioning.

Usually, I’ll admit I wouldn’t put this one so heavily on
Pavelec. My problem with it was that he had literally been beaten clean blocker
side twice before that, with both shots going clean off the posts. It was pointed out early and often throughout
the broadcast that the Kings were aiming high. There’s a reason for that.
Pavelec’s blocker side is horrible.

Things to Watch For

The Jets take on the Ottawa Senators Saturday afternoon at
the MTS Centre, as they look to try to climb themselves back within a point of
the final playoff spot. Here are some
things to watch for heading into that game:

What are the lines going to look like? If they all stay the same, I’m not going to
be happy. If I were Maurice, I would try
to keep a little consistency and put the Ladd- Little – Frolik line back
together. That moves Frolik back to the
wing, and the Jets being really short with their centers means John Albert would
get into the lineup. I’d put Kane and
Byfuglien with him, then put Olli Jokinen and Devin Setoguchi with whomever
Paul wants. That’s just me though. Maurice seemed to really like Frolik at
center, so I am thinking he will stay put.
Does Pavelec start in net? Probably. Maurice rides the “hot”
goalie.
Will he regret it? Yes, yes he will. Playing Pavelec too much will lead to a heavy
drop off. It’s coming soon. I guarantee it.

Final Thought

Looking for a reason to unfairly hate Bettman? California is
the home to three hockey teams. All three of those hockey teams are pretty damn
good right now. Bet he did that just to smite the Jets. What a jerk.