Jets goalie says he ‘lost the puck in the stands’

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 2:21 PM CDT Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015

PLANTATION, Fla. - Ondrej Pavelec had an edge to his tone and was as much defiant as anything else in his description of Tuesday’s shot heard round Winnipeg.

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PLANTATION, Fla. - Ondrej Pavelec had an edge to his tone and was as much defiant as anything else in his description of Tuesday’s shot heard round Winnipeg.

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This article was published 11/03/2015 (4226 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PLANTATION, Fla. – Ondrej Pavelec had an edge to his tone and was as much defiant as anything else in his description of Tuesday’s shot heard round Winnipeg.

Pavelec was victimized by a what was half dump in/half shot with just over a minute left in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night. Veteran defenceman Barret Jackman swatted the puck towards the Jets net from just inside the red line and it inexplicably found its way to the back of the net.

The Jets had climbed back from a 4-1 deficit in the third period to even things at 4-4 and appeared destined to collect at least a point on the night. Instead the Jets boarded their jet to Florida in a sour mood and sitting just one point ahead of the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference wild card standings.

Tom Gannam / The Associated Press
Ondrej Pavelec makes a stick save during the third period against the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night. — Tom Gannam / The Associated Press Ondrej Pavelec makes a stick save during the third period against the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night.

“I thought (Jackman) was going to dump it in, (Jets defenceman Jacob) Trouba was right between us and I lost the puck in the stands and it just went in. Stuff like that happens, it happened at a bad time,” said Pavelec, who came into the game midway through the second period after starter Michael Hutchinson allowed four goals on seven shots.

There was some debate on Tuesday night whether the puck had hit Trouba and changed direction, but Pavelec said he didn’t think that was the case. After the game in St. Louis, Pavelec elected not to talk with the media.

“I didn’t want to, because I knew I would talk to you guys today. To be honest, you’re not in the mood to talk to the media after that happens. I knew I was going to talk to you guys today, I didn’t see it as a big deal,” he said.

For Jets fans the loss was an emotional roller coaster as they glumly watched their team fall behind by three goals and then got their hopes up again in the third as their team equaled the score at 4-4 on Blake Wheeler’s shorthanded effort.

Pavelec played a major role in the comeback as he made a number of key saves while the Jets killed off four third-period power plays. But the goalie said he wasn’t frustrated by the final outcome.

“Listen I didn’t play for three weeks, I was sitting on the bench for three weeks. I just went in when it was 4-1, I was just trying to have fun, enjoy the game. I was happy I was in the game. But obviously what happened happened, I’m not the last guy that this has happened to. But like I said before, it happened at a bad time.”

Pavelec says he’s already put the loss behind him.

“You have no choice. I’ve been in this league long enough to understand you’re not going to change what happened,” said the six-year NHL veteran. “I’m just looking forward and I’ll be ready for our next practice. That’s pretty much all you can do.”

Jets coach Paul Maurice said the loss was difficult to shake off, but if he can use it as a learning tool for his team, that will be his approach.

“Yeah, you deal with it and move on. It’s tough to claw back there and have it go away from you the way it did, and we’ve got a game tomorrow night,” he said. “If you can use it to bring that real strong level that we’ve done real well this year, then sure.”

Maurice wouldn’t tip his hand as to who would be in net for his team on Thursday night when the Jets meet the Florida Panthers, but he says it’s an easy choice. Maurice has started Hutchinson in seven consecutive games and 14 of the last 18.

“Yeah, I’ve got my guy picked and I’ll tell you tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t know that if you have the other scenarios go a different way and we win that game – is that a more difficult decision? I don’t feel it’s a pretty difficult one right now. I’m pretty clear on who’s starting.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless