All things considered, last night wasn’t a bad result. Maybe it was because the majority of Jets fans had low expectations going into a game where we all suspected the Jets would come out a bit sluggish having been five days removed from their last game action and playing in a city where they’ve had almost no success.

Both goaltenders – Matt Murray for the Pens and Connor Hellebuyck for the Jets – were outstanding. Excluding the first ten minutes or so of the game where the Jets – as expected – came out a bit flat, it was a highly entertaining game of hockey where the teams traded chances and the Jets held their own against the Penguins.

For some, maybe “holding their own” isn’t good enough, but it’s better than spending the game being out-classed which is what they were a little over a week ago at home against Columbus… So we have some progress.

Three other quick takeaways from last night’s game as we get ready for tonight’s game in Columbus…

I felt Matt Hendricks was just “ok” last night. He wasn’t setting the world on fire with his play, nor was he the difference maker that Paul Maurice had kind of alluded to in talking about him, but I did feel he did do more with his limited minutes in a 3rd/4th line checking role than Nic Petan did. (Which by the way isn’t an incitement of Petan or his talent level at all, but rather a commentary on how Hendricks is more of a fit for Maurice’s “style” at the moment, just so were clear on all that)

There was a sequence during a penalty kill where Hendricks gave his stick to Jacob Trouba who had his broken earlier in the play, and then still managed to block a shot without said stick. People who love hockey narratives like that are the reason why they love guys like Hendricks. He gives up his stick… He gives up his body.. Good ol’ fashioned hockey grit and heart! Play like this is the hockey equivalent of chocolate. It’s enjoyable and it does have its benefits in small measured doses, but too much of it is not good for you.

Overall the bottom six still isn’t really producing anything of real substance be it points on the board or perceived momentum. The Jets were on their heels for the first ten minutes or so of the game until three shifts from the Jets in the Penguins zone got things evened out. Those shifts came from the second line (Laine/Little/Ehlers), then first line (Scheifele/Connor/Wheeler) and then after a TV timeout, the second line again.

For supposed “energy guys” there should be more expected from them than just barely holding on and not letting opposing teams carry play all the time which is what it feels like we get from the third and fourth lines.

No, your eyes didn’t deceive you, the Jets penalty kill was a perfect four for four last night and yes, it was a tiny bit more aggressive in terms of attacking the outer edge of the attacking zone. It still wasn’t pretty at times and the Jets still give up zone entry far too easily, but that they didn’t just all collapse to within five feet of the net area is a positive sign that they may have figured out that “hope that the puck hits us” isn’t the best way to kill penalties or defend overall.

They are still guilty of that strategy, just not as much last night.

I saw a lot of discontent with Jacob Trouba’s play over social media last night and I’m honestly not exactly sure why. His underlying numbers suggest that he did alright for himself and while the eye test may have seen a few miscues made, I don’t feel he had any more than the average defenseman would have on any given night and none of his “errors” were plays that led to goals against.

I think part of the problem right now is Trouba along with Josh Morrissey is being used as a shutdown pair which doesn’t exactly play to their strengths especially given how Paul Maurice has had team play a passive style of defense. Fans are seeing Trouba’s lack of production as a sign that he isn’t playing well, but I would suggest his lack of production numbers wise is due to the fact that he’s being asked to defend against other team’s top lines as priority number one, and then after that, try to produce offense.