Jets Post-Game 14: They are the Champions

 

That was a brutal afternoon for Jets fans everywhere. The team was undone by the coaching adjustments of the Blackhawks early in the second, Pavelec was chased from the net, and we had to listen to Greg Millen. Ack.

During the broadcast we heard that the Jets had taken Keaton Ellerby off waivers from the Kings. It came after three quick goals by the Blackhawks, the first two against the Jets emergency third pairing of Ben Chiarot and Adam Pardy. I don’t think Ellerby is any kind of solution – like adding Mike Santorelli at the trade deadline on a team just inches from a playoff birth. In fact, needing help on the powerplay again, they ignored Grebeshkov and Corey Potter on waivers a few days ago to take another stick optional player.

That said, it’s good to know Cheveldayoff is still reading the waiver wire.

The team’s third line of Frolik/Scheifele/Halischuk was buzzing all afternoon. They led the team in shot attmempts for by a wide margin. As a line, they were on for 22 attempts together, and both the 1st and 2nd lines were on for 13 each. They also led the team in shot attempt % at almost 69%. The Kane/Jokinen/Wheeler line were all in the mid to low 40’s in a game with score effects in the Jets’ favour.

Speaking of score effects, we can see them in the Fenwick chart so clearly that I thought I would use the graph from ExtraSkater.com:

These are shot attempts, not including blocked shots. Precisely after their 4-1 goal, the Blackhawks shot attempts plateau and the Jets begin to control play again. The Jets out shot the Blackhawks (27-25), and this is why – garbage time.

That said, the first period had bursts of effectiveness, and the Frolik/Scheifele/Halischuk line was involved in all of them.

Clisome/Byfuglien had a tremendous game, out shooting and out chancing the ‘Hawks while avoiding being on for any goals against – a near miracle in this game. Each player was above 60% in corsi attempts, and they pushed the play.

Enstrom/Bogosian had relatively good games as well. They were on for two goals agianst, but managed positive corsi and Enstrom scored the Jets’ only goal. Bogosian carried the puck a ton in this game, and I expect to see an inordinate number of zone entries for him when Travis gets to the stats work.

The Kenyan Boys Choir who did the anthems were also great, and hilariously startled when the crowd yelled ‘True North.’

The worst part of this game is that the bad was mostly just three players. The second and fourth lines weren’t good, mind you, but they were better than Tuesday’s game against St Louis.

No, the worst culprits were Adam Pardy and Ben Chairot. A chaotic -3, the pairing only played 11 even strength minutes and yet were able to sink the whole game.

Ondrej Pavelec… the goal they pulled him on was hardly his fault. A screened slap shot by a totally open defenseman. But the other three had various amounts of odour on them. Two in close goals on turnovers at the offensive bluelines – a shot past him by Bollig on a two on one and a deke across him on a clean break away. And the first goal was another distance slapshot, one that hit him and went through. In each moment we can give him some benefit of the doubt. But this tweet sums up a career extremely well:

Only Steven Mason has been worse. Yikes.

I was also surprised personally that Toews was briefly boo’ed, and that fans taunted Crawford when he appeared to be injured. Jets fans have shown incredible class in these three years, welcoming Teemu, and even cheering Khabibulin at today’s game. It was a confusing heel turn.

After tipping it out twice to start the game, Byfuglien was accused of not playing well with others.

"So Dustin Byfuglien has touched the puck twice, and no one gets to touch it after him."