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I’m not sure when it started but once again the 300 level took the ‘fandemonium’ to a new level in the MTS Centre tonight as the Jets played host the Buffalo Sabres. Before the game it was easy to say it was going to be a playoff atmosphere but if this was a preview of what the playoffs could be like in Winnipeg, be afraid, be very afraid.
In a unique broadcast set up this game was also available nationally in the US on NBC, rare for a Monday night, don’t tell that to anyone in Winnipeg as the fans saved perhaps their best for this night. The telltale mark was not the serenading of Miller in raining, deafening cheers but the shot at his Olympic achievement, the silver medal in men’s hockey. The chants came and then the came hard as “Silver Medal” filled the MTS Centre. This new and some what controversial (according the Sabres twittersphere) chant proved again that the fans in Winnipeg are leaving nothing in the beer lineups, much like the team is leaving nothing on the bench in their efforts.
The game was fast and fair (albeit another Buffalo fake icing call) and had all the intensity of rivalry and desperation between two teams fighting for one of the last spots in the post season. The Jets came out on top but not without some great moves, great scoring and cohesive effort.
Andrew Ladd potted his 21st of the year in the first period to give the Jets the early lead and put the Sabres in a position they had not been in for some time, trailing in a game. The lead held fast until late in the second when Cory Tropp was able to slide a puck past Pavelec while there was a scramble in front. It would seem unfair to pile on Hainsey after a somewhat solid period of play but the big defender did not play to his size and was looking for the puck rather than trying to move the body which had take up prime real estate in Pavelec’s crease. It’s some thing that has been a problem all season and while it appears to have subsided in recent weeks seeing a goal scored in such must have been concerning to many.
The second intermission gave time for the Winnipeg faithful to fret over their doubts as the pondered which team would take the ice for the third period; the one who plays fickle and conservative almost afraid to take the chances, or the team who launched 5 goals in the Panthers in the third last Thursday?
Fortunately it was the latter who emerged and in a see saw battle of rushes and attacks eventually it was Blake Wheeler who broke the stalemate. In what turned out to be a broken play for the Sabres, Bryan Little recovered the puck in front of the Jets net and then sent a charging Wheeler free on Miller. The shot went glove side high before hitting the cross bar and into the net as Miller slid back into it waving his hand at imaginary butterflies.
“Silver Medal! Silver Medal! Silver Medal!” The chant cascaded down from the rafters as the cheering subsided and for the Jets there was no looking back, only icing on the cake.
In what has to be the unlikeliest of rushes and moves Chris Thorburn blew by recently returning Robyn Regehr and brought a toe-drag on Miller before catching his own rebound and slotting it on the far side as he crossed in front. Regehr was completely undressed by the career third liner and one has to wonder how much the Sedins miss seeing him six times a year. In the end it was the Jets scoring 2 third period goals to close the Sabres out but also making it 7 goals in the last two third periods. Who would have thought?
The roof came down after that for the fans and the Jets managed to ride out the game for the 3-1 win, a critical two points before the embark on the final 15 games of the season, 9 of which are on the road.
This game also marked the debut of Grant Clitsome who made an excellent impression with a solid 19 minutes of play and a minus -1. Noel commented he “thought he skated with the puck real well in and out of trouble,” in praise of the newest Jet. Clitsome was asked post game about the crowd at the MTS Centre and he replied “it was beyond expectations”.
Noel also had praise for his team mates in his post game comments particularly Byfuglien. He prefaced some of his observations by saying the coaches had talked to him recently about his play and how to manage his game. It did not stop the praise as Noel followed, “I like the fact that he played the game that was in front of us”. Obviously a remark meant to show how contained Buf was in his movement and that he did not wander from his task looking to make an impact away from the task at hand. Most importantly from the coach was when he said, “I thought our guys played really hard together,” in his most honest and direct comment. One that is also a true statement about why the Jets win and how they achieve success.
So where do the Jets go from here-the road for two games, after completing this eight game home stand on a winning note. It’s not going to be easy as they face Vancouver and then Calgary in the cursed second game of back-to-backs but it is the hand they have to play. The challenge is how do they bottle up what they do at home and take it on the road? As Noel said when asked about this very concern, “we’re going to have to provide out own energy.” Indeed they will but it’s much easier when you are coming out and winning big games because every game now is just another big game.
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