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Jets turn into Hurricane hunters in Carolina |
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The coach was looking for a bounce back game after the beatdown in Tampa Bay and he certainly got it as the Jets trounced the Hurricanes 8-1. There was even a storm surge of sorts too..
You can look at the stats and try to dissect this game but in the end the the Jets had won it by the mid-way point of the first period. Everything else was gravy. The Carolina Hurricanes managed to maintain their shot attempt dominance but in a battle of back-ups it was Brossoit who stood tall and McElhinney who could not stop a thing.
It's hard to make sense of games like these that are so lopsided and like the match versus Anaheim what comes after will be more telling. The Jets were at home against Anaheim and had the Sharks roll in three days later only to lose to them in OT. Tomorrow the Jets play the Capitals in what should be a hard challenge as teams look to accumulate points and hold off challengers in the playoff position race.
There were many pleasant events that happened last night and for Jets fans the hope that the team can build on them will surely exist. The line of Connor, Hayes and Ehlers took off combining for a total of seven points although some came away from each other with Connor's PP goal. Actually, scratch that they had points all over the place.
While Winnipeg's favorite controversy, Patrik Laine had only one assists it was a very good one and showed a side of his game that's been missing- his passing. Laine's feed coming down the left wing to Wheeler 3 minutes after the opening goal was another play of beauty and frankly if Laine wants to start piling up assists Jets fans should be more than happy. He draws attention and now he's beating defence with his passes while opening up scoring opportunities for his team mates.
Favourite whipping boy in this space- Tyler Myers had a decent enough game once the Jets got into cruise control but as the team weather the initial onslaught from the Hurricanes early he and partner Kulikov had some struggles.
What began to happen though, with them and other Jets players is they started taking away areas of the ice from the Hurricanes. Perhaps it was a bad game for Carolina or perhaps it was the coaching staff finding a way to read and adjust the players, or both. However it unfolded it worked and it was a pleasant change. The Hurricanes are talented team who drive play well but once up by four goals at the end of the period the Jets managed them well not giving too much away and containing the shots, as well as blocking them.
Of not is that in another blowout win Mark Scheifele did not appear on the scoresheet, nor did Niku or Tanev. It's nothing serious just odd.
When a team wins like that it's hard not to get too built up and hyped but perspective is needed. The Jets needed that win but they also need to understand playing well does not always mean wins will be easy so they have to take away the good things in moderation. First and foremost the Jets skated with the Hurricanes and matched their speed. Second they found some space and drive from the neutral zone into the offensive zone via reads so that would be nice to see against Washington. Finally they did not take their foot off the gas so to speak when up early- they got greedy and that's the way they have to look at all games when having a lead.
The schedule does not get any easier in the next 3 games with Washington, San Jose, Boston and Calgary followed by a road trip to Anaheim, LA, and Vegas before returning home to face Nashville, Dallas, the Islanders, and then Montreal. There is hope and optimism given last night but it's not going to be easy.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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