|
Underwhelming Play Yields 2 - 1 Loss to Sabres |
|
|
|
|
|
Follow me on Twitter
The Set Up
With Morrissey out and Bitteto in, the Jets set out to make amends for their somewhat uninspired Saturday afternoon performance against the Flyers. I hope Niku was banged up because a softer team like Buffalo surely didn’t require any extra muscle in the lineup at the expense of skill.
As the Jets were trying to stay in the wildcard race, the Sabres were attempting a late surge in the standings. They had played well as of late, beating both the Leafs and Pens in the last week, albeit while losing 7 – 4 to the Sens in between.
Can anyone tell me what happened to Jeff Skinner? After a 40-goal season playing on Eichel’s wing, Jason Botterhill determined that Skinner was a 9-million-dollar player. Absent from Eichel’s wing now, he’s got 12 goals and 21 points in 52 games. That’s some pricey production.
On the bright side, with Olofsson now on Eichel’s wing and up to 19 goals in 47 games, they can overpay him next year too. Ah well, not our problem.
1st Period
Sure was nice to see Eakin throwing hits in his first shift as a Jet. You could tell during his media availability he was not too thrilled about being traded out of Las Vegas, but can you blame him? That’s a good team over there, with some pretty fun players and good management. Hopefully, he finds it well in Winnipeg once the shock wears off.
Okoposo got things going for the Sabres, chipping a rebound past Helle.
Did Dennis Beyak just say the Jets have given up the first goal in 8 consecutive games? Holy…
Just to ensure Hellebuyck was warm after that early goal, the Jets let Eichel in alone. He deked to the backhand, but Helle stayed with him, stoning him with the right pad. Yup, he’s good.
Jansen Harkins, getting the nod on the top line, made a great drive to the net, almost getting the Jets on the board, but at the very least, getting them on the powerplay. Which unfortunately became a 4 on 4 less than thirty seconds in. Sad trombone.
That line would play amazing all game and register more chances by a mile than any other on either team. If only they could have executed more.
Still, the one that did was a thing of beauty, as Scheifele dished to Harkins who found Wheeler racing to the net for the back-door tap-in.
They were so close to getting another just before the period ended, but couldn’t get another by Jonas Johansson. In case you’re wondering, he’s a 24 year old, third round pick of the Sabres who played in just his fourth NHL game on Sunday. Neat.
2nd Period
The first line would pick up where it left off with Harkins getting another quality chance. He must have had close to five in the game. It’s going to be interesting to see how the lines develop once Lowry and Perreault return to the lineup. Some of these younger guys are starting to challenge for more playing time and it will be interesting to watch how it all shakes down.
Helle made some more huge saves in the second, while the first line continued to dominate. It was a bit of a boring period however. Defensively, Pionk made a pretty sweet play negating Frolik from getting in alone on a breakaway. Not a lot stood out to me though.
The shots were tied at 17 apiece after two, and I couldn’t tell you who the better team was. Neither looked great.
3rd period
I wonder why Nick Shore can’t hit the net from directly in front of it. And why when he finally does score, everyone will make “it’s a Shore thing” puns, when the only sure thing about Shore is that he won’t score.
It was nice to see Pionk with the solid defensive work on Jack Eichel. What a great sequence in the third where he shadowed him through the Jets zone and pressured him off the puck. That part of his game was not something that was talked about in New York at all. This player appears to be evolving before our eyes.
Connor could have had a quality chance, but the puck wouldn’t stop bouncing on him, finally settling on slapper from the circle that went wide. Him and Laine haven’t done anything on that second line the last two games. Is it Copp that they lack chemistry with? Each other? Or is Scheifele just so accommodating of a player that others get goals playing with him?
Eventually, one of the Sabre’s high danger chances would get past Hellebuyck, when Okoposo put away his second of the game.
The Jets created very little once down by one, with the exception of a beautiful set up by Ehlers that was bungled by Beaulieu when he shot it wide.
The Wrap
A couple of crappy games against mediocre teams and the Jets are on the outside looking in on the playoffs again. February is a crazy busy month for games after the break, and I wonder if fatigue is starting to creep in again. This team could use a couple more reinforcements before the deadline. We know it won’t be a blockbuster, but can Chevy get something done?
I’m not holding my breath. The team still has a good shot to make the playoffs even without extra additions. It’s not going to be easy to get points in the next three, however, as the Jets face the Capitals in a home and home series before taking on the Oil Saturday.
That next one is Tuesday at 6:00 PM.
They’ll be celebrating Ovi’s 700th before puck drop.
Should be alright.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»