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JNGD.73 Recap: It’s Ya Boi Kyle Connor!

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Photo credit:© James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports
Art Middleton
6 years ago
The Jets pick up their third win in a row with a 2-1 OT win over Los Angeles. Thank you Kyle Connor for the goals!
But again it seems to have come at a cost as Patrik Laine left in the second period after taking a shot off his left leg.

TALKING POINTS

  • Obviously all anyone will talk about for the next bit is the injury to Patrik Laine. So let’s get the obvious out of the way first: Laine should never, ever block shots. Former NHL goalie Corey Hirsh actually had a great take on it a few days ago…
  • That said, I don’t think Laine meant to go out and block the shot, I feel like it was more of a reactionary move on his part. After the game, Maurice mentioned that he didn’t feel the injury was severe or “sinister” in nature and we’ll know more about his injury and it’s severity in the next day or so I imagine, for now just hope it’s precautionary and nothing more than swelling and bruising.
  • Kyle Connor may be having the greatest rookie season that no one outside of Winnipeg is paying attention to. Mathew Barzal may have all the attention, but Connor now has seven more goals than him in six less games played. Of course what hurts Connor’s chances compared to Barzal is Barzal has a lot more points (75 to 46) and one can argue Connor’s numbers have been helped by playing beside Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. Still though, Connor at the very least deserves some Calder credit, or at the very least more than he’s gotten. He’s going to be a 30 goal player this season.
  • The Jets special teams was great and poor. A perfect 2 for 2 on the penalty kill but 0 for 4 with the man advantage.
  • Adam Lowry isn’t playing his best hockey coming off injury quite yet, but he is playing physical and getting in some solid licks on opposing players. He’s already helping the Jets get back to being more of a shot repression type team.
  • Apparently the Bryan Little move to the wing is related more to an injury that his hindered his face off ability more than anything else, but in two games I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from him in that position. He’s had some really good scoring chances.
  • Eric Comrie didn’t have to work overly hard – 16 saves on 17 shots – but he had to stay sharp a few times and keep his team in the game.
  • If you don’t know the story of Jack Campbell, it’s worth looking into. He’s a former top ten draft pick that was supposed to be the Dallas Stars franchise goalie for years to come and it’s been a rough road ever since. He’s a good story in perseverance. As a fan of Campbell’s it was good to see him put on a great 36 save performance… Just wish it wasn’t against the Jets.

SCORING SUMMARY

GIF HIGHLIGHTS

HOW DID THEY CORSI?

Stats & Charts courtesy Corsica.Hockey
Matchups are limited to 5-on-5 situations. Tile size is scaled by Time On Ice and colour is scaled by adjusted Expected Goals differential. Blue represents a home team advantage and red represents a road team advantage.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

For Winnipeg: Kyle Connor – Two goals for the rookie off of five registered shots on goal. His work has started to heat up over the last few games.
For Los Angeles: Jack Campbell – The Kings played like a team on the back end of a back-to-back effort and Campbell’s 36 save effort got them a much needed point in the standings.

NEXT FLIGHT

The Jets have a couple of days without a game before hosting the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night at Bell MTS Place.

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