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JNGD.S8.G51 Recap: Jets Continue To Find Ways To Win
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Photo credit: © Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Art Middleton
Feb 1, 2019, 00:46 EST
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Stop me if you’ve heard this before.
The Jets didn’t exactly play their best… *stop*
… But they managed to hang around for two periods keeping the game within one goal… *stop now*
… and ended up winning … *no really stop*
… thanks to a Kyle Connor … *are you kidding me? stop*
… game winning goal.
Jets win 4-3. Didn’t even need overtime for this one.

FIRST PERIOD

The first period starts off well enough for the Jets in the first five minutes of the game as they get an early power play that they don’t score on, but the momentum from that power play carries over to the game’s first goal as a couple of good shifts in a row from the Jets hem the Jackets in their own zone.
The Jets almost made it 2-0 right after that on a near miss, but the Jackets start pushing back a little bit and even things up after a handful of chances on Connor Hellebuyck and a few Jets turnovers.
The Jets continued to struggle with zone exits as the period went on and after they took a penalty, Columbus capitalized on a very lethargic Jets penalty kill.
The period ends with the Blue Jackets leading in shots 11-8 and 8-6 in even strength scoring chances.

SECOND PERIOD

Better effort from the Jets in the second period as they didn’t outright control play, but at least didn’t get pinned down in their own zone as badly. Winnipeg does get a power play in the middle of the period that saw the top unit out for the entire two minutes and getting a couple of scoring chances, but Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made a series of big saves on Wheeler and Laine. The Jets and Jackets trade chances a few times and then trade goals as a Mason Appleton goal to tie things up is matched about a minute later.
The period ends with the jackets again holding a one goal lead with about the same amount of shots taken in the second period as they had in the first, but a slight difference in play in that the Jets were credited with more scoring chances at 11-6 and high danger chances at 6-3 for the middle frame.
Expected goals also seemed to favor the Jets after two periods, so while it didn’t quite feel like it the Jets were in decent shape to mount a third period comeback.

THIRD PERIOD

Which they did because that’s just how things have gone for the Winnipeg Jets lately.
After a few chances given up early, the Jets started to control play and possess the puck which forced the Jackets into a penalty midway through the third, and this time as the second power play unit got onto the ice, they mirrored what we’d usually see from the top group.
Jack Roslovic suddenly has a couple of goals in his last three games played which would be a very welcome sight for Jets fans who’ve been waiting to see him breakout a little bit.
Columbus picked up their play yet again and for a while it looked like the Jets poor zone exits and turnovers were going to ultimately cost them a game. A Mark Scheifele delay of game penalty put the Jets in a very tough spot and opened the door for some controversy to creep into the game as refs blew a play dead when a stickless Brandon Tanev was hit up high with the puck.
The stoppage insenced Columbus coach John Torterella who had just recently seen his team not get the benefit of such a whistle when Zach Werenski took a shot off his head against the Penguins but have play continue resulting in a Penguins goal.
The fortunate break for Winnipeg led to a dramatic last minute goal from Kyle Connor.
The game ends with the Jackets leading most categories in the game including shots and scoring chances, but the Jets leading in the most important column.

The good…

  • The Jets top line was very good and looked dangerous all night. There is a strong argument to split them up to see if the team can get other lines and players going, but at the same time if it’s working, why mess with it?
  • Winnipeg’s fourth line was pretty decent as well. They didn’t control play like the top line did, but they also weren’t dominated either. The goal from Appleton – albeit a bit fortunate – was a welcome addition to the scoring.
  • Jack Roslovic on the power play you say? Your idea is intriguing to me and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

The bad…

  • He at least finished north of .900 (.903 save percentage to be exact) but this game wasn’t one of Connor hellebuyck’s best. He made the saves when absolutely needed, but two of those three Columbus goals were a bit on the odorous side and won’t settle the calls for more Brossoit going forward.
  • Not to be a broken record, but turnovers in the defensive zone continue to be a massive issue for this team.
  • Anthony Duclair played a grand total of 24 seconds in this game for Columbus. It was his turnover that led to the first Jets goal and apparently John Tortorella figured to make an example of him from that point on.

The ugly…

  • Tort’s temper. Look, I get the frustration over having a power play blown dead when it looked like your team was seconds away from scoring with a 5-4 man advantage and one of those four guys doesn’t have a stick… But the reason he didn’t have a stick was because it was slashed out of his hands seconds earlier and not called by the refs. Torts – who was his typical “angry at everything especially his own team” self – should maybe consider the whole thing even and moved on. Not a good look to whine that much about an injured player, especially one such as Tanev who doesn’t make it a point to stay down even after taking some tough blocks.

THE BOXSCORE

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

For Columbus: Anteri Panarin – Honestly if you’re Columbus, I don’t know how you trade this guy if you’re still in a playoff race. By far the best player on the ice for the Jackets tonight with a goal and a helper.
For Winnipeg: Top line – Hard to give it to just one of the three as Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor all had really good games for Winnipeg tonight.

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