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Fisticuffs and Special Teams, Jets Dropped 2 -1 by Bs. |
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The Set Up
This was Scheifele’s 500th game, and that's cool. He’s kind of the beginning of the Jets 2.0 from a certain perspective. He’s the first draft pick of a draft and develop team. So, his 500 games are a kind of historical milestone for the team in a way. A mostly obscure way that I’m not going to define.
Last time the Jets met the Bruins, they came up short 4 – 3, playing their third game in four nights. But, the Jets did look rested on the night, and they had a lot of hustle, and they hit a lot of posts.
1st Period
Neal Pionk, got things started, when he walked in from the point and got a shot off in tight. A juicy rebound was created that no Jet stick was able to manage. The Pionkster has been taking the space given in the offensive zone lately. It’s a good look.
The Bruins first chance would come off a Jets’ turnover, but Brossoit had the angle and took away the net. Niku got off a decent slapper from the point with more traffic in front of the opposition’s goalie then I’ve seen from this team in awhile.
And then some mastery occurred, when Ehlers took the puck from his own end, as he often does, and skated all the way into the B’s zone and around the back of their net. Next Ehlers, popping out the other side and finding Laine gliding into the slot for a pass he one-time snaps past Rask.
The Bruin’s creating pressure with their forecheck offered Bergeron an opportunity from the low circle, but Brossoit remained dialed in and kicked it aside. The B’s would get their chances but, it was apparent that the Jets had taken advantage of their break with the jump in their game.
Still, Brandon Carlo caught the crossbar through some serious traffic. A prevalent theme throughout the night. Wheeler would get the next chance when a Bitetto rebound found his blade. Tragically, he was impeded by the “Spoked B’s” D, and could not increase his teams lead.
The rough stuff would begin in earnest after that. First with Laine as he did a decent job of runnin’ Big Z into the boards. Seconds later though, McAvoy would catch Scheifele with his head down and annihilate him. This upset the Pionkster greatly. So great in fact, that Scheifele’s honor had to be avenged in a contest of ice-boxing. He did alright too, maybe catching McAvoy with a couple rights in the fight.
That’ll teach ‘em not to seek an opportunity for further combat.
So Pionk went to the box and the Bruins to their first powerplay. It’s notable, the Jets were doing reasonably well on the kill until Morrissey took another penalty. However, with the extra space the 5 on 3 afforded, Bergeron would take a pass on the fly and wire one far side to tie it up at one.
Not a bad period for the Jets following a long break. They lost the shot battle 15 - 12, but seemed to have their legs back in a large way.
2nd Period
Morrissey almost made some magic when he sprung out of the penalty box and took a pass from Copp. Sadly, he would get in just a little too close to pull the puck across for a backhand deke.
We saw the Jets catch the Bs on a line change, when Appleton passed to Wheeler racing in, but he was unable to get his backhand to go five-hole on the Rasker. He was able to draw a penalty though.
The Jets would get carried away by the rough stuff, when Ehlers landed a solid check on Marchand, only to be face-washed in return. I guess Marchand hadn’t been following the West and wasn’t sure who he was dealing with. Then again, maybe he had, because immediately after the gloves were off, Marchand was pulling the “Crazy Dane” to the ice. Say what you want about rats, they know how to survive.
This would give the Jets some time 5 on 3 but, they just could not get anything to go. Laine would hit pipe twice and Connor would get close on a couple chances but, the execution just wasn’t there on the night.
Awarded another powerplay, Wheeler took a slapper, Copp almost broke in alone on a nice stretch pass from Morrissey, and then Shore almost found Roslovic for a back-door tap-in; still nothing.
Bourque would throw a solid check on Coyle and so have to spar with Carlo. He held his own despite giving up seven inches in the altercation.
The Jets powerplay moved the puck around well again and did get shots off, including a Laine deflection that hit another post. The Bruins defense was dedicated to the cause and did the dirty work, blocking everything that Rask didn’t have to save but probably would have anyway.
And through two, Brossoit was every bit Rask’s equal.
The trilogy of honor-bouts would conclude when Sbisa defended Perreault’s after Kuhlman rocked him with a rather awkward, sideways hit.
More like unKuhlman.
The Jets, coughing up the puck, would give the Bruins their own taste for iron when Grzelcyk rung one off the inside of the bar. Laine would end the period with a madman’s rush that drew the B’s 6th penalty of the game.
3rd Period
As we all know by now, nothing would go for the jinxed Jets on the night. Dennis Beyak would let us know that Perreault had been knocked out of the game right before Scheifele just about lifted a backhand rebound past Rask. Sadly, the puck was swatted away once again, this time by a Bruins defender.
No chance in crap that the Jets lose because of it, but Niku would take one of the softest slashing calls I’ve seen, leaving the Bs on the PP. And ol’ Jakey DeBrusky, parked in front of Brossoit, took a quick pass from Pasta circling the net, finishing it.
Don’t believe me about that slash? Caman.
Shortly after that, Jack Roslovic coming in on his off wing would lift a backhand that clipped the outside of the bar. How many is that now? Rask’s toe-save on Laine’s snapper almost half way through the third upset me. For the Jets on the night that was shot number 30. E for effort, you might say, but 4 - 8 in January. That's just scary, it makes me wonder if we should be selling, not buying this spring. What are you thinking?
I would be remiss not remembering the marvelous save Brossoit made with a buck forty to go. Laying down and getting the leg out on Krjeci’s deke, in all alone.
The game’s second best save came just moments later, when Pionk dived in front of a puck with the Brossoit-vacated net agape. The effort awarded Laine the chance to fire off one more, alas, Rask would have the last laugh.
The Wrap
Tough loss for the Jets. They played their guts out and hit a shitload of posts, won the shot battle 38 - 25, and came up short by one. Oh well, won’t have to think about it long.
It’s St Louis tonight, on the second of a back to back. Do you think the powerplay needs to score one? Do you think Helle’s gonna need to stand on his head tonight? Have you ever pictured a guy with a weird curving body that allows him to actually put both his feet onto his head? You have now. Game’s at 6:00 PM.
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