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JNGD.S8.G61 Recap: Jets Redeem Themselves With A 6-3 Win In Vegas
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Photo credit: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Art Middleton
Feb 23, 2019, 11:21 EST
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The Jets welcomed Nik Ehlers back into the lineup and with his return saw Paul Maurice change up the forward lines including bumping up Patrik Laine to the top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. While the first line promotion didn’t net any results in five on five play, Laine did finally break out of his slump with a pair of power play goals and the Jets for the first time in quite a while played mostly like the Jets we have expected in a 6-3 romp over the Vegas Golden Knights

FIRST PERIOD

It doesn’t take Nik Ehlers long to reintroduce himself as he scores less than a minute into the game off a juicy rebound from a Bryan Little shot. About thirty seconds later the second line continues to get work done as Kyle Connor takes the puck to the net and puts the Jets up by two.
The 2-0 lead is a reflection of the jump the Jets have on offense early. The top line of Scheifele / Wheeler / Laine also look dangerous at moments but were a couple of mishandled pucks away from actually creating scoring chances. The Jets don’t dominate the first period, but they don’t get out-played in it either. The Knights have an edge in 5 on 5 scoring chances by a 10-8 ratio in the first, but it’s the Jets that have the better of the high danger chances 6-4.
Unfortunately not all of the Jets ills seem to be cured as turnovers in their own end continue to create chances for opposing teams including one that gets past Hellebuyck.

SECOND PERIOD

Again it’s more of a “keep it simple” type game from the Jets where they don’t exactly overwhelm the Knights with offensive pressure, but they are simply trading chances. Eight minutes into the period, another turnover in their own zone leads to a Jets goal against and a tie game.
Penalties also drag the Jets down as they take another two minors in the period, but the penalty kill seems to also be much improved on the night allowing one shot on each of the two power play chances against in the period.
It looked very much like the Jets were go into the final period in a scrappy deadlocked game until a Knights penalty gave the Jets a chance to make things right with Laine…
That loud sigh you heard was Jets fans across North America and Finland breathing a sigh of relief.
The Jets followed that up with another quick goal as Adam Lowry who also has been going through a noticeable if not less talked about goal-less drought finally got on the board as well.
The reunited TLC line was also quite good and their late goal to make it a 4-2 game was a perfect example of how they can use their physical and tenacious play to generate scoring chances.
Suddenly the mood after two periods goes from white knuckle to somewhat comfortable as the Jets are in a favorable position.

THIRD PERIOD

Did we say “slightly comfortable”? Whoops…
The goal to bring the Knights back within one is a tad concerning but seemed to also serve as a bit of a wakeup call for the team to keep their feet moving. Sure enough, a little over five minutes into the third, Vegas finds itself in massive penalty trouble with a pair of infractions to give the Jets an extended five on three power play that you just knew was going to be almost nothing but putting pucks on a tee for Patrik Laine to hammer away on.
He only needed two chances.
From there the Knights do press a bit as score effects take over. The Jets didn’t exactly let their foot off the gas pedal by any stretch, but they don’t seem to take any unnecessary risks with the puck either. The defending is solid and when that breaks down Hellebucyk – who admittedly didn’t have his best game tonight – came up with those very important timely saves.
Andrew Copp adds an empty net goal from long distance shortly after and the Jets reclaim top spot in the Central with their first ever win in Vegas.

THE GOOD…

  • Patrik Laine goals, Patrik Laine cellys, Patrik Laine smiles. No one was probably harder on the kid for not scoring than the man himself. It was his sixth game of the season where he’s scored multiple goals.
  • Jacob Trouba picked up three assists and bounced back nicely from a disaster of a game in Colorado. He now has a career high in points with 34.
  • Blake Wheeler has 70 assists as well this season. Fourth season in a row he’s hit that mark.
  • This 5v5 heat map isn’t great, but it’s certainly much better than we’ve seen recently. Still a few too many chances against in the slot area, but the Jets did a much better job of protecting the front of their net.
  • Keep these lines the way they are… The top line didn’t score even strength, but there were signs that they could. The second line with Ehlers now able to drive the play is almost ideal and Tanev/Lowry/Copp should always be a thing.
  • Of course this all changes should they add a certain forward from Ottawa… #BringStoneHome

THE BAD…

  • The defense was much improved on the night, but turnovers from careless passes and zone exit attempts are still very much there and led to two of the three goals against tonight. A return of Dustin Byfuglien should help matters in that area in time.
  • Hellebuyck stopped 29 of 32 shots for a .906 save percentage which isn’t bad, but if we’re being honest could have been a bit better. All three goals against felt line shots that he should have no real issues with, but to his credit he made three or four very difficult looking stops to either keep his team tied or in the lead. After a handful of games where he was seemingly left alone by his defense to fend for himself, it’s nice to see the team in front of him pick him up on a not so strong night.

THE UGLY…

  • The two hits on Scheifele that somehow didn’t earn a single call. Look, we’re not saying every hit on him should be illegal, but you’d think hits to his numbers would earn a call or two, right?

THE BOXSCORE

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