The Whiteboard: The continuing evolution of Adam Lowry

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This article was published 02/04/2015 (3836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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BACKGROUND

It was back in 2011 when the Winnipeg Jets called out Adam Lowry’s name in the third round, 67th overall, of the NHL draft. He was already physically big then and drew some name recognition for being the son of longtime NHLer Dave Lowry. Mostly, however, he was seen as a project player needing a lot of grooming.

Fast-forward to the present, and Lowry has made significant contributions to the Jets all season long, playing both wing and centre while showcasing the hockey IQ of a man 10 years his senior. He’s hit double digits in goals with 10, two of them game-winners, while averaging just under 14 minutes of ice time a night.

What The Whiteboard will showcase this week is everything that is good about Lowry’s game in one spectacular 20-second clip.

 

SETTING THE SCENE

The Jets and New York Rangers are tied 1-1 early in the second period Tuesday night. Winnipeg is pressuring the Rangers on the forecheck and, at the same time, in the midst of a line change. With the puck deep in the Rangers zone, wingers Andrew Ladd and Michael Frolik head off, but Lowry (17) — just off the bench — charges in to pressure New York defenceman Ryan McDonagh (27). Using the net as a shield, McDonagh gathers the puck and attempts to exit the Rangers zone along the wall.

But with Lowry doggedly in pursuit, he is able to force McDonagh to turn the puck over between the Rangers blue-line and centre ice. That mistake is gobbled up by Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba (8), who feeds Lowry with a quick pass — Lowry having hustled to get back onside.

Lowry passes to Mathieu Perreault (85), who has just hopped onto the ice, and then drives towards the Rangers net. Perreault feeds a charging Lee Stempniak (20), and the space in front of the former Ranger is considerable as New York — late making their own change — is caught flat-footed. With McDonagh and Dan Giardi dropping back to account for Lowry, Stempniak leans into a shot that beats Henrik Lundqvist glove-side.

And so in the span of a few seconds Lowry is right back where he started: in front of the Rangers net.

 

J.P. SAYS:

“We’ve seen a lot of progress in Adam Lowry’s game this season and especially in the last few weeks when Bryan Little was injured and he was elevated to the first line. But this shift shows, in particular, how he continues to grow in confidence and as a player. The Jets don’t have the puck, but his first reaction is to attack and apply pressure on the puck. Many guys would quit or gear down here as McDonagh moves around the net. There’s no quit in Adam Lowry, who continues to back-pressure the Rangers D-man hard. That’s tremendous work ethic and it leads directly to a turnover.

“Lowry knows then, as he takes it over the blue-line, that he has to be aggressive. He makes a quick pass and then takes his 6-5, 205-pound body right to the front of the net where he screens Henrik Lundqvist on Stempniak’s shot.

“That’s just one example of the continued evolution of Adam Lowry. You see it from an offensive standpoint, but also his worth ethic on the back-check and his aggressive approach to getting back on the attack in the offensive zone.

“There’s been a great progression from Lowry, and they’ll need to see more from him and Mark Scheifele in their playoff push.”

J.P. Vigier, who grew up in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Man., is a former NHL winger (Atlanta Thrashers, 2000-07) who finished his career in the Swiss league. He does Jets analysis for both TSN 1290 and Radio Canada and teaches power skating and skill development for kids of all ages (jeanvigier11@gmail.com).

 

— Ed Tait