Road win makes a red-eye nicer

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This article was published 02/11/2014 (3063 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK — The Winnipeg Jets were wheels-up and en route to Chicago last night, covering 1,146 kilometres before Sunday’s match-up with the heavyweight Blackhawks.

And picking up five of a possible six points so far on this four-game road trip — which wraps up at the United Center — likely made the late-night trek a tad more enjoyable.

“We knew it was going to be a grind, considering all the aspects: playing in New York and then going back to back in Chicago,” said Evander Kane.

“It was important for us to have some success early on the road trip. We’ve done that so far and it would be nice to get another two points (tonight).”

Asked what that turnaround is like — touching down in Illinois late and then matching up against the Blackhawks — Kane grinned, then added:

“Well, coming off a pretty fun Halloween night and the last couple of nights it’s going to be even tougher. I’m sure we’ll be able to make it through it.”

MORE RAVE REVIEWS: Some numbers to munch on: In the Jets’ last four games over which the Jets have gone 3-0-1, Pavelec has stopped 105 of 110 shots for a .955 save percentage.

“Good for him,” said Jets coach Paul Maurice.

“We haven’t been able to give the guy a whole lot of goal support, so he figured out how to win the game. Just spectacular. He’s been really good right from training camp on. And tonight he was our best player by far.

“He needs to be able to get some confidence out of these games. He needs more than just, ‘Geez, you played well and we couldn’t score enough for you. So, good for him. He’s earned it and he’s got all the respect in the world in that locker-room from the players in front of him.

“He competes hard, battles hard. I’m happy he got it in a shootout. At the end of the day nothing beats him.”

Pavelec is now 5-4-1 this year with a 2.10 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

“I’m feeling good. Especially after a win, you always feel good about a win,” he said.

“I’ll be happy to put more games like that together. It’s only 10 or 11 games into the season. We need every point. It’s been a good road trip.”

And when he was asked if a week like this makes him think about maybe being a little less under the microscope, Pavelec shrugged.

“I said that so many times… You’re the goalie that plays in a Canadian market, in Winnipeg, where they didn’t have a team for a long time,” he said. “That’s part of the game…. nothing you can do about it. Just focus on how you are going to prepare for the game and that’s pretty much all you can do.”

VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE: Rangers coach Alain Vigneault on being down to four defencemen but still gutting out a single point in the loss:

“Tough circumstances right off the hop. Our guys buckled down. Our four defencemen logged tons of minutes. It wasn’t for a lack of effort or execution. We played one of our best games of the year.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait