JNGD.S8.G54 Recap: Jets Can’t Keep Pace With Flying Habs In 5-2 Loss

5 years ago

The Jets were absolutely out-classed by a quick and fired up Montreal Canadiens team and if not for Connor Hellebuyck’s 48 save heroics, this game should have been a blow out, but instead it ended 5-2 in favor of the Habs as the Jets start off their road trip on a very tough note.

FIRST PERIOD

The Jets get off to a good start with the opening goal that saw Ben Chiarot and Kyle Connor make a pair of nice passing plays before Mark Scheifele finished the play to take a 1-0 lead, but the Habs stormed back mostly due to a lot of Winnipeg Jet turnovers in their own end. Montreal ties it as their speed gives the defense fits and multiple turnovers lead to a flurry of chances for the Habs to take a lead including a 38 second stretch midway through the first period that saw the Canadiens rack up eight shots on goal. Connor Hellebuyck holds strong though and the first period ends tied up.

SECOND PERIOD

Montreal’s speed continues to give the Jets issues as they simply can’t handle the attacking forecheck which leads to a goal early in the period to put the Jets down by one. The Jets do manage a few extra chance in the second period than they did in the first period, but again get out-shot and were on the shallow end of scoring chances. What scoring chances the Jets do muster are stopped by Carey Price. Connor Hellebuyck for his part continues to make awkward if not spectacular saves that bail out his zone exit challenged side.

The Jets are only down by one after 40, but it feels like it should be more.

THIRD PERIOD

Nothing changes in the third outside of the Habs being able to find the back of the net a little more as the Jets can’t do anything against the speed and checking that Montreal has on this net.

THE GOOD…

Hellebuyck. That’s all we really got tonight as he kept the Jets in the game for as long as he possibly could.

THE BAD…

Putting Laine on the second power play unit didn’t exactly pan out very well for it’s first trial run. Not that either power play unit looked good for that matter.
This heat map:

The Jets simply were not good at all in their defensive zone and really missed Josh Morrissey tonight.

THE UGLY…

Brendan Lemieux’s goal late in the game. Good on him to keep fidning the net, but it’s also a bit frustrating that Patrik Laine couldn’t buy a goal right now but all Brendan Lemieux has to do is just randomly throw it towards the direction of the opposing goal and somehow with the help of the goalie and defenseman, it finds a way in. Incredible.
Zone exits have been an issue for the Jets almost all season, but wow was it ever bad tonight and a lot of it was just bad decision making with the puck. Yes Montreal played with speed and forced the issue a bit, but far too many pass attempts would have firmly been put in the “extremely hopeful but not wise” category.