Jets Nation Recap: Jets Choke Up Lead, Fall to Blues 4-3
8 years ago
The Winnipeg Jets scored three even-strength goals while out-shooting the St. Louis Blues 36-26, got production from their bottom-six, and only trailed on the scoreboard for a total of 3:44 in the entire game.
Yet, they still found a way to lose.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this one that hasn’t been said a thousand times already.
The Jets got off to a great start, playing a very aggressive and physical game and putting the pressure on Jake Allen and the Blues. They finally broke through when Mark Scheifele deflected a Tyler Myers point shot to open the scoring.
The Blues answered right out of the gate in the second period. 16 seconds in to be exact. Troy Brouwer sniped a shot past Connor Hellebuyck high glove on a 2-on-1 to tie the score at one all.
The Jets would then score twice in just 2:34. First, Chris Thorburn ripped a one-time feed from Blake Wheeler in the slot, then Drew Stafford showed off some nice hands to roof one in tight on Jake Allen.
It seemed like was going to go the Jets way. Jets have a 3-1 lead and have only take one penalty so far…..and there we go.
Adam Lowry off for holding. Power play goal Alex Steen.
Mark Scheifele off for roughing/cross-checking. Power play goal Vlad Tarasenko.
Jets gained a two-goal lead in 2:34, and they give it away with two power play goals against in 2:26.
The Blues would complete the comeback when Myers gets caught on an awfule pinch and Taresenko feeds Paul Stastny on a 2-on-1 that Hellebuyck had no chance on.
Blues win 4-3.
It won’t get any easier for the Jets as they face the New York Rangers next, Friday night at MTS Centre.
KEYS TO THE GAME
PENALTIES: We’re starting to sound like broken records over here and it’s really getting annoying. Whether the calls were questionable or not, going just 1 for 3 on the penalty kill is not going to win you most games. The penalty kill HAS TO step up. The Jets did a better job of limiting the amount of penalties they took tonight, but the timing of the penalties couldn’t have been worse. The Jets need to be more disciplined, or at least have a better penalty kill if they’re going to keep taking bad penalties.
Defense: When you face the St. Louis Blues, who are the two guys you think of that you need to look out for? Tarasenko and Steen. Well, the Jets kept an eye on them all right, only because they each had a 3 point night. ‘Oh, but two of those points were on the power play.’ Yes, and where was Tarasenko when he scored his power play goal? Sitting in a lawn chair sipping a margarita back door just waiting for the puck to get to him. Bottom line is, the Jets did a terrible job tonight of shutting down the Blues’ go-to guys.
Goaltending: No, I’m not gonna start picking on Hellebuyck for this one. He’s a young goaltender that has been playing EXCEPTIONALLY well, but still a young goaltender. To be honest, you can’t really blame him for any of the goals against. If you asked him, he may want the Troy Brouwer goal back, but that was a 2-on-1 play that he had to respect the pass and it was a tremendous shot by Brouwer. That being said, he definitely had his worst game yet of his NHL career, statistically speaking. If he wants to be a number one goaltender in the future, he’s gonna have to make some of those saves that he probably shouldn’t make and bail his team out. He couldn’t do that tonight. Like I said though, he’s still very young and he’s only going to get better. The Jets have a real gem with Hellebuyck.
YOUR HOT TAEKS
Most teams would kill to have that kind of secondary scoring. Emphasizes once again that scoring is not the issue for this Jets team.
On the bright side, only five points out of the Auston Matthews sweepstakes ;-). I keeeed, I keeeed.
Kind of.
Yet they still get an ABSURD amount of ice time. Maurice is still adamant about using Stuart on the penalty kill for some reason. Maybe he’s a double agent here to destroy the Jets from the inside.
Garreth dropping the knowledge. Jets’ special teams are especially bad.
CHARTS AND STUFF
Individual 5v5 scoring chances.
Shot attempts by team (all minutes). Courtesy of War on Ice.
GIF RECAP
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