The Jets got another look at the Caps on Thursday night, and the Caps got to see another Jets. Who were these guys? Starting on time, committing to checks, and winning battles? It was quite the sight and rather enjoyable to behold.
Morrissey was still out, so Nelson Nogier was called up to enjoy the pressbox. The 23-year-old defenseman from Saskatoon has 9 points in 55 games in the A, so I assume he’s a defensive defenseman. Except, he’s a -15. Enjoy the popcorn Nelson.
Maurice rolled out the same lines as Tuesday night and they seemed to work for him. New guys Cody Eakin and Dylan DeMelo both played well in their home debuts and were noticeable making strong simple plays. The Jets need more of that.
Samsonov and Hellebuyck squared off after Brossoit and Holtby went at it on Tuesday. They both looked good, but only one would be perfect.
1st Period
Kuli-freakin’-kov scored the first one on the night with a half slapper through traffic that alluded the Caps young netminder.
Things would get a bit rough for the Jets, when Wilson rocked Beaulieu and then Laine blocked a shot with his shins. Beaulieu would be ok, but Laine was done for the night. We can only pray Laine wasn’t seriously injured on the play. W ell, I guess we could try voodoo or something too, but I don’t really know any witch doctors.
We witnessed one of the worst five on threes ever when watching the Jets pass the puck around seemingly aimlessly for almost a minute. They appeared unsure of their objective and eventually ended the opportunity with a single shot. Kind of shame considering they had almost the full two minutes, up two men, to make something happen.
2nd Period
Hellebuyck had to make a huge save off Vrana to start the second after he streaked in and tried to snipe one. And then again, he stretched out and robbed Ovie with the right toe on his opportunity off the face off.
Then Ehlers shot a puck wide, 2 on 1 with Appleton, but it popped back out for Apple in front. Unfortunately, Samsonov got enough of his shot to deflect it up and over the net. Soon after, Roslovic ripped one that would also succumb to the stylings of Caps’ young netminder.
Pionk pulled a nice move to get inside and gain a shot, but then Vrana blew past Kulikov and ripped one off the outside of the post. Harkins took a heavy crosscheck from Kuznetsov which Wilson found hilarious. What a monster.
The Jets PK continues to play remarkably well, killing two penalties against in the last five minutes of the second, and then had some splendid chances of their own. Still, the period would end at 1 – 0.
3rd Period
Vrana just about broke away for the second time to start a period, but Wheeler backchecking like a beast managed to disrupt the play and turn it the other way.
Shore did well to intercept a pass on the kill and then put Ovie hard into the boards. No penalty was called, and video replay revealed the incredibly powerful bear of a man that is Ovechkin, folding like a tent in a Tennessee breeze. They say If you ain’t cheatin’ you ain’t tryn’. They also say honesty is the best policy. So, I’m kind of confused by they.
It was nice to see Scheifele win a battle and sling a puck over to Connor who got it off so incredibly quick that Samsonov wasn’t able to do much of anything at all.
Remember when people said boo-yah? I think this goal may have been boo-yah worthy once.
Watching Copp win a battle on his knees against two Capitals was probably the highlight of the night for me. I don’t care if he’s a second liner or a third liner, what he is, is a gamer.
An incredible net-drive by Jack Roslovic just about put the Jets up by three, but Samsonov laid down and stretched out the left pad just enough to stop the puck.
And finally, the Jets defensive work kept the Caps to the outside in the last minutes before Scheifele iced it in to the empty net.
Aaaaand the shutout for Hellebuyck. His league leading 5th, tying him with Merzilikins and Marc-Andre Fleury. It's really starting to smell like Vezina burgers in Helle's kitchen.
The Wrap
Wasn’t that nice? The Jets showed up on time, they played defense, and they beat one of the best teams in the league. How cool would it be if they could do that against teams like Buffalo and Detroit? Alright, alright, they won. It’s cool.
The three-point game in Nashville featuring the two teams immediately ahead of them in the standings did little to assist the Jets. Still, with the win the Jets remain in the thick of it despite having played more games.
It’s going to get real interesting here real quick with the Jets playing western teams in 12 of their next 14 games and Central division teams in 4 of them.
The next one is at 9:00 Saturday against the Oilers.
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