logo
JetsNation has no direct affiliation to the Winnipeg Jets, True North Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Game 64 vs. LA Kings: Pavelec Performance & Neutral Zone Play
alt
Travis Hrubeniuk
Mar 8, 2014, 02:46 ESTUpdated: Invalid DateTime
Comments
Oh no Toby šŸ™
Itā€™s pretty difficult to win hockey games when you spend so
much of it in your own end.Ā  The Jets had
their chances to move the puck down the ice and attack the Kings, but they were
simply shut down, out possessed, and simply out classed.

Zone Entries

5 vs 5
Player
Total Entries
Shots (From Entries)
Shots/Entry
Controlled Entries
Shots (From Control)
Shots/ Controlled
% With Control
2
Pardy
0
0
N/A
0
0
N/A
N/A
5
Stuart
2
0
0.00
0
0
N/A
0%
7
Ellerby
0
0
N/A
0
0
N/A
N/A
8
Trouba
3
2
0.67
3
2
0.67
100%
9
Kane
14
6
0.43
9
3
0.33
64%
12
Jokinen
3
1
0.33
0
0
N/A
0%
14
Peluso
1
0
0.00
0
0
N/A
0%
15
Halischuk
4
4
1.00
2
3
1.50
50%
16
Ladd
8
1
0.13
6
1
0.17
75%
18
Little
3
0
0.00
1
0
0.00
33%
19
Slater
2
0
0.00
0
0
N/A
0%
26
Wheeler
6
4
0.67
3
4
1.33
50%
27
Tangradi
2
0
0.00
1
0
0.00
50%
33
Byfuglien
3
0
0.00
2
0
0.00
67%
39
Enstrom
2
0
0.00
0
0
N/A
0%
40
Setoguchi
2
0
0.00
2
0
0.00
100%
44
Bogosian
2
1
0.50
0
0
N/A
0%
67
Frolik
1
0
0.00
1
0
0.00
100%
JETS
58
19
0.33
30
13
0.43
52%
OPP
61
38
0.62
33
25
0.76
54%
OZF
15
7
0.47
DZF
12
0
0.00

Observations

  • The Jets problem in this game was not directly the neutral
    zone play.Ā  After all, they managed to
    get the puck into the Kings zone close to the same number of times as it came
    back and they carried it in more often than not.Ā  The problem arose with what each team was
    able to do once they actually got the puck into the zone.Ā  The Kings cycled, moved the puck, and created
    shots and chances.Ā  The Jetsā€¦did not. To
    say they were lacking chemistry and fluency throughout their lineup would be an
    understatement, but you canā€™t take anything away from a solid Kings team
    defensively.
  • Apparently I need to say this again. Kane and Jokinen do not
    work together.Ā  Byfuglien didnā€™t help
    much either.Ā  Kane is way too fast and
    just plays too differently from either player for that line to work.Ā  Even on the goal they produced, Kane was in
    on the play way before Jokinen was.Ā  They
    were just able to capitalize on a bit of a breakdown in front of the net.Ā  Maurice eventually realized the lines werenā€™t
    working as the game went on, and tried to swap Byfuglien and Wheeler.Ā  Thatā€™s great, but Kane has sown in the past
    that he simply cannot be productive when he is with Olli Jokinen. Separate them
    Paul. Separate them now.
  • Need more proof? Despite Evanderā€™s team leading 14 entries
    throughout the game, that line was the worst possession line on the team. Iā€™m
    honestly not even sure how that is possible.
  • The Ladd ā€“ Little ā€“ Wheeler grouping ended up looking like
    they did early on this year.Ā  A decent
    number of entries, but production only coming from one of the trio.Ā  That player of course was Blake Wheeler, who
    strangely was then removed from the other two in an attempt to shake things
    up.Ā  I think this further exemplifies my
    thoughts on this coaching decision.
  • Similar to the top two lines, the Jets third line was stuck
    working with only one effective player.Ā 
    Shockingly, it wasnā€™t usually reliable Michael Frolik.Ā  Matt Halischuk of all people had a decent
    game, but I think the miniscule production and horrid possession stats for the
    Halischuk ā€“ Frolik ā€“ Setoguchi line make it a full sweep of ā€œwhat the eff were
    you think?ā€ in regards to these lines.Ā 
    There was no chemistry whatsoever the whole way through.

Pavelec Performance

The Jets poor possession numbers led to a LOT of Kings shots
throughout the game.Ā  Pavelec handled
himself pretty well throughout the night, but Iā€™m hesitant to go as far as some
and say he was ā€œspectacularā€.Ā  Regardless
he has played well recently, so credit where credit is due.Ā  Letā€™s see how long he can maintain it this
time.
Goal
Situation
Why It Went In
Where It Went
1
Average Play
(Controlled ZE)
Beat ā€œCleanā€
Five Hole
2
Turnover
Beat Clean
Glove Hand
3
Penalty Kill
Beat Clean
(Pavelec)
Blocker Side

Quick Explanations

That was a heck of a pass by Jarret Stoll, but no five-hole
goal is ever a ā€œgoodā€ five-hole goal. You have to squeeze the pads. Ā  Ā  Ā Ā 
Ewwwww Toby, that was
bad.Ā  There is no real forgiving of that
turnover, but itā€™s a situation that you really wish your goalie could bail you
out.Ā  I know itā€™s hard to ask more of
Pavelec in games like this one, but an elite goaltender is able to make that
huge save following a defenders mistake.Ā 
We donā€™t see it often from Pav at all. Most of his ā€œbigā€ saves come
following his recovery from poor positioning.
Usually, Iā€™ll admit I wouldnā€™t put this one so heavily on
Pavelec. My problem with it was that he had literally been beaten clean blocker
side twice before that, with both shots going clean off the posts.Ā  It was pointed out early and often throughout
the broadcast that the Kings were aiming high. Thereā€™s a reason for that.
Pavelecā€™s blocker side is horrible.

Things to Watch For

The Jets take on the Ottawa Senators Saturday afternoon at
the MTS Centre, as they look to try to climb themselves back within a point of
the final playoff spot.Ā  Here are some
things to watch for heading into that game:
  1. What are the lines going to look like?Ā  If they all stay the same, Iā€™m not going to
    be happy.Ā  If I were Maurice, I would try
    to keep a little consistency and put the Ladd- Little ā€“ Frolik line back
    together.Ā  That moves Frolik back to the
    wing, and the Jets being really short with their centers means John Albert would
    get into the lineup.Ā  Iā€™d put Kane and
    Byfuglien with him, then put Olli Jokinen and Devin Setoguchi with whomever
    Paul wants.Ā  Thatā€™s just me though.Ā  Maurice seemed to really like Frolik at
    center, so I am thinking he will stay put.
  2. Does Pavelec start in net? Probably. Maurice rides the ā€œhotā€
    goalie.
  3. Will he regret it? Yes, yes he will.Ā  Playing Pavelec too much will lead to a heavy
    drop off. Itā€™s coming soon. I guarantee it.

Final Thought

Looking for a reason to unfairly hate Bettman? California is
the home to three hockey teams. All three of those hockey teams are pretty damn
good right now. Bet he did that just to smite the Jets. What a jerk.Ā 

Breaking News