Peter Tessier: Ovie vs Laine & Jets Ot problems continue While Ovie beat Laine on the score sheet while making history it's the Jets dismal record in overtime that has fans upset.

Ron Lyman nails it in his post. Can’t add on that in anyway as he is right that the same scenario with Buff pinching as the last man back has been the end of so many OT.

While I think Helle might have played his best game all year, he struggles with that game ending shot like last nite.

Maurice’s player selection in OT are completely mystifying. Why he continues to do this is beyond discussion. You have fast players and you don’t use them because you trust Little, Buff and Wheeler more? Look at the results. I would be ok to watch Ehlers, Laine or Morrissey fail in OT because at least they are fast and possibly could get back on a broken play and represent a different player selection. I mean, if you trust Buff, Little and Wheeler that much and your results are 2 and 8 then you need try some other players.

Not rocket science PoMo. You don’t need to be coach of the year to deduce that your OT player selection stink.

Couldn't agree more Peter...

It's very discouraging to continually lose in OT...it reminds me of when Helle used to let in each and every breakaway (last year).

I believe that unless POMO starts using his players differently...we will continue to lose these types of games.

I'm also beginning to think that Maurice doesn't have the ability to change things up on the fly...because when we start to spiral out of control...he has no answer...no line changes...no benching and certainly no strategic changes that will give them an edge.

And when there is a big shift in between periods...he'll say the team leadership came through...so why is he here...just to open doors???

I have refrained a long time from criticising Bryan Little but here goes. His play last nite was not very good and two penalties certainly don't help but Little's game is not what it used to be. Defensively, I beleive he is ok. But, he has struggled offensively with just about any wingers you can plug in there this year. Ehlers and Laine certainly hit the wall but look what happens when Statsny centers Laine and Ehlers? A completely different outcome.

Little's contract extension troubles me. Granted that Chevy likely never imagined that he would have Paul Statsny when he extended Little, but I would rather have the money invested in Statsny than Little at this juncture.

I am going to go out on a limb and agree with Rexy that the only way out of Littles contract is by way of Seattle selecting him after being exposed in an expansion draft. I just think there are better options to spend that money and term at this point.

Paul Maurice will only take this team so far.

This team needs Trouba back.

How does Wheels escape all criticism on the OT goal? He stood still and watched Buff pinch, when it is his responsibility to cover for him, which he was easily in position to do. Buff did what he was supposed to do on that play, he is expecting help from Wheels. Don't get me wrong, I also don't think Buff should play at all during OT. However, Wheels looked completely exhausted so this was on Paul Maurice. This team wins in spite of Maurice, his inability to adapt and adjust is mind blowing. How do you not use your speed in OT? Everything you have done in OT all year has been wrong, so start doing the Costanza (complete opposite of your thinking). Play your speed and skill, its like he's scared to lose, yet he keeps losing. This team will need to find a new coach to put them over the top, which has happened to many recent cup winners. Hopefully, they realize this sooner rather than later - but I doubt it.

Good regulation effort, especially with all the injuries.

I don't like Byf for 3x3 ... I would start Morrissey, Stastny, and Ehlers

Here's the thing about last night - Wheels took WAY too long to make the pass to Little during the 2 on 1 rush ... WAY too long ... his pass was chipped and Little was left scrambling on the boards trying to regain possession .... Byf pinched in to help .. google the replay - Wheels was actually heading back towards the blue line - and not in much hurry ... 3 on 3 demands that each player - when the situation demands - has to defend ... Wheels stood almost at a complete standstill and watched Kuznetsov (?) pick the puck up behind Byf and start a rush ... if you watch the replay, Wheels only hits the accelerator when Kuznestov is in full stride ... like WTF ?

I put that one on Wheels for the two (2) reasons mentioned, above

I believe Wheels is playing injured ... his speed isn't up to par and even his decision making has slowed ... compared to his best play ... believe he played injured late last year, too

Thanks, foxbat - just saw your post as I finished mine

How does Wheels escape all criticism on the OT goal? He stood still and watched Buff pinch, when it is his responsibility to cover for him, which he was easily in position to do. Buff did what he was supposed to do on that play, he is expecting help from Wheels. Don't get me wrong, I also don't think Buff should play at all during OT. However, Wheels looked completely exhausted so this was on Paul Maurice. This team wins in spite of Maurice, his inability to adapt and adjust is mind blowing. How do you not use your speed in OT? Everything you have done in OT all year has been wrong, so start doing the Costanza (complete opposite of your thinking). Play your speed and skill, its like he's scared to lose, yet he keeps losing. This team will need to find a new coach to put them over the top, which has happened to many recent cup winners. Hopefully, they realize this sooner rather than later - but I doubt it.

Good regulation effort, especially with all the injuries.
- foxbat

I am mystified how Little avoids criticism. No winger has done well playing with him. The man has played with Ehlers, Laine, Connor, Wheeler, Perreault, and Roslovic. None of those guys have done anything with him.

Laine and Ehlers go on a tear once Little is removed from their line. "Mr. Fixit", Mathieu Perreault is having difficulty with him as his centre. Roslovic has done nothing with him there. Now Wheeler and Connor look invisible.

Bryan Little has the worst contract on the Jets. They should have sold high on him.

Offensively, yes I agree, Little is killing his linemates. His value, I guess, is that he is pretty responsible defensively (he was terrible for the first couple years here). Personally, I would have gotten rid of all the Thrashers right away and started over (tanked for McDavid so to speak, fans would have understood). Anyway, this organization has no real depth at centre and it cannot attract free-agents here, especially with being such a crappy team for 6-years. Maybe that changes now, but only if the Jets go a few rounds. I know people suggest Wheels, but the reality is that he may not want to play centre - nobody knows. Stastny has shown what this team is capable of with a creative/solid/faceoff winning centre, what are the chances of keeping him though? Right now Little is unfortunately all we have.

There's a lot of frustration to go around on that play but I stand by what I said in the blog- the Jets tactics in OT are flawed to start. They play it like they do 5-on-5.

They attack and try to recover the puck and OT is different it's about controlling possession and wearing down the opposition before scoring. Force the opposition to make mistakes and that's exactly what happens time and time again to the Jets.

Now as some point out Wheeler is guilty here. He plays the2-on-1 poorly creating the turnover and then glides around to cover the wall while he watches Kuzentov come up towards Buff.

Wheeler is playing the pass back to the middle so he's gliding and he either thinks Buff is going to make the pinch (successfully) and he can swing back around or he thinks he's going to back up buying him some time to accelerate and catch up to the rush while bing able to take the pass across the ice.

The point here is that they both gambled and that's in the DNA of this team to attack and it does not change with OT. It needs too. You can blame all of them if you like but it's not really any one player's fault IMHO.

https://www.nhl.com/video/t-294014376

Guys. Complain all you want about the Jets on 3 vs 3 in Overtime. Come playoff time its no longer a problem.

Guys. Complain all you want about the Jets on 3 vs 3 in Overtime. Come playoff time its no longer a problem.
- jetsnation

This👍

To quote Wheeler, pump the brakes on the little hate.
-Is his contract 2 years to long, absolutely!!

-Is he struggling, absolutely but as is everyone outside the Stastny line!!!
Perreault, Connor, raslovic, wheeler all included!!!

-Stastny is off to a great start but he is exactly like little he's just hot right now and has this "new car smell" to him that Jets fans are loving. Ask any Blues fan and they will tell Stastny will also disappear for long stretches plus in all likelihood he will sign a richer deal this summer than Little and it will also become that teams worst contract.

-sadly in today's NHL top 9 centres and top 4 D who hit free agency are always going to get over paid!!!

Guys. Complain all you want about the Jets on 3 vs 3 in Overtime. Come playoff time its no longer a problem.
- jetsnation

Cheers for playoff hockey. 3v3 is a gimmick to satisfy american fans who don't 'get' the honor of a tie game.

To quote Wheeler, pump the brakes on the little hate.
-Is his contract 2 years to long, absolutely!!

-Is he struggling, absolutely but as is everyone outside the Stastny line!!!
Perreault, Connor, raslovic, wheeler all included!!!

-Stastny is off to a great start but he is exactly like little he's just hot right now and has this "new car smell" to him that Jets fans are loving. Ask any Blues fan and they will tell Stastny will also disappear for long stretches plus in all likelihood he will sign a richer deal this summer than Little and it will also become that teams worst contract.

-sadly in today's NHL top 9 centres and top 4 D who hit free agency are always going to get over paid!!!
- Ross77

Thanks Ross. The whole team will benefit when back to health. It is so good to see the team battling and finding a way to get points regularly, a few years ago too many close ones slip away without a point.

Last night it was Hellebuyck, probably his best game as a Jet. He was in control and made good saves and great saves. Take away the penalties and I liked Little's game last night - he was playing with more speed and edge. I think he is coming around to past form at the right time. The Stasny line wasn't as good as other nights. One good steal from Ehlers and another Laine goal on a good feed. More confusion from them in the d zone resulting in at least one OV goal. For me the best duo was Armia/Tanev. The Little line was good and entertaining, they created chances.

Last night it was Hellebuyck, probably his best game as a Jet. He was in control and made good saves and great saves. Take away the penalties and I liked Little's game last night - he was playing with more speed and edge. I think he is coming around to past form at the right time.
- 2.0

This is something that I will agree with you on. Perhaps the rest is a whole lot of b!tch**g but Helle last night not only played his best game this year, or ever, it was a game where he showed something that I have never seen from him prior.

Typically, he plays the big body goalie, using his size and positioning but last night he was fighting for the saves, moving faster than I have ever saw him move from side to side. He was determined to win this game himself if he had to and he gave the best shot he could. Helle has impressed me this year because he is different from last year, consistent and reliable, but last night he showed everyone an angle of his abilities, or a higher level that I didn't even think he was even capable of. All I can say is/was, Wow!

This is something that I will agree with you on. Perhaps the rest is a whole lot of b!tch**g but Helle last night not only played his best game this year, or ever, it was a game where he showed something that I have never seen from him prior.

Typically, he plays the big body goalie, using his size and positioning but last night he was fighting for the saves, moving faster than I have ever saw him move from side to side. He was determined to win this game himself if he had to and he gave the best shot he could. Helle has impressed me this year because he is different from last year, consistent and reliable, but last night he showed everyone an angle of his abilities, or a higher level that I didn't even think he was even capable of. All I can say is/was, Wow!
- CharlieDog

Helle Little Buff

Hutch out with UBI, radio says concussion protocol. Mason: 2 to 3 weeks.

Centers out: Scheifle, Statsny, Lowry, Hendricks. D: Kuli, Trouba, Enstrom.