Jets Nation Recap: Winnipeg Jets pick up back-to-back wins in playoff push

9 years ago

The Winnipeg Jets win yet again. They move one closer to the playoffs, which looks to be a very tight race.

The Jets started hot. Dominating the San Jose Sharks early in both goals, shots, and shot attempts. Three early goals by Adam Lowry, Mark Scheifele, and Andrew Ladd sent Antti Niemi packing.

Combination of score effects and the Sharks waking up created a rough ride for the Jets over the next two periods. The Sharks pressed hard and scored two goals from the stick of Joe Pavelski, only for Blake Wheeler to score two of his own in between Pavelski’s.

Let’s break it down.

Three Keys

Youth Movement – The Jets dressed a 1C and 2C who are playing their 21-year-old season and an impact defender who is playing in his 20-year-old season. All three of the Jets early goals were created directly from the three young skaters. Mark Scheifele has filled in adequately during Bryan Little’s injury, and Adam Lowry’s defensive play has transitioned well even when playing in the top six. Jacob Trouba meanwhile sits as the Jets best defender in terms of shot metrics.

Pavelectric – Unlike the game against the St. Louis Blues or the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ondrej Pavelec was tested, a lot. Pavelec faced 33 shots in the second and third periods combined, while letting in only 2. There is talk about riding the hot-hand, although most evidence shows this to be a poor strategy.

Special Teams – The Jets have struggled for the most part in this department, both in their opportunity differentials (they create more penalties than they draw) and their performance. The Jets connected on three of their power plays, while limiting the Sharks to no goals on their own.

Charts and Stuff

Jets Individual 5v5 individual statistics:

Individual scoring chances (iSC), shot attempt differential (Corsi +/-), non-blocked shot attempt differential (Fen +/-), and offensive zone face off as percentage of all non-neutral zone face-offs: