‘It was not our best game’

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This article was published 08/12/2016 (3203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nikolaj Ehlers’ goal drought reached 15 games Thursday night, and, despite his frustration, he put on a brave face.

“It’s the same as (Tuesday),” the speedy Winnipeg Jets left-winger said after a second-period breakaway resulted in a hit goalpost, one of many since he scored his last goal against the Arizona Coyotes Nov. 10.

“It’s another chance I didn’t put in. You know, I think in a couple of weeks those go in.”

Ehlers, who is stuck on four goals after 30 games (but has 23 points), had another glorious scoring chance, but was turned back by Rangers goaltender Antti Raanta in a 2-1 victory for New York.

“Obviously, not the best first period,” said Ehlers.

“We didn’t play our game, we didn’t play hard enough. I think we came back really good in the second and the third was kinda on and off,” he said. “Overall, it was OK, but it was not our best game.”

Ehlers wasn’t prepared to dwell too long on the loss.

“That’s how hockey is, right?” he said. “Both teams had some pretty big chances. And sometimes they go in and the game ends 8-5 and sometimes they don’t and it’s a 2-1 game.”

Working overtime

Patrik Laine and Jets teammate Ehlers went out after Wednesday’s practice for some extra skills development. They apparently can’t get enough ice time.

“We had some free time and we were bored,” Laine said Thursday. “We just figured we should practise some more.

“You can’t practise too much. You can always be better. We try to improve our scoring skills and hope that we can use them (Thursday).”

Laine on the state of his game: “I’ve had a couple of chances that I could score more. I’m not a complete player. I think everybody knows that. I can be a lot better player. And that’s why we can be on the ice.”

Is the NHL grind wearing Laine down?

“I’m 18,” he said. “It would be not good if I would need rest now. I’ve played 29 games, and I’m not even exhausted. I could play every day. It doesn’t matter to me. That’s why you practise in the summer, so you can play now.”

Plotting for shootout

Jets head coach Paul Maurice explained his rationale for who he sends out for the shootout.

“Historical numbers, current numbers. So what a guy’s done over his career, what a guy’s done recently, and then you almost always see us put our highest percentage or the hot guy in the two-hole, especially a guy like Patty (Laine) who gets a look at least,” said Maurice. “We do, like I’m sure every NHL team — both goalies, pretty much every shootout shot that they’ve taken is available for our guys to watch before the game, so they have an idea of tendencies.

“The number drops pretty significantly on most teams on people who have had success, below the one-third number.”

injury bug

Maurice has little sympathy for teams crying the injury blues.

“Just open up your web browser and read the headlines,” the coach said. “There’s some teams that have injuries now — and they’re devastating, they’re terrible. Then, when they lose five more guys, they go through what we’re going through.

“Being able to move these pieces around and then having these young kids come in and play well is, well it’s pretty critical.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14