Jets so close, yet so far

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This article was published 26/01/2017 (3272 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets had just fallen 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night at home when veteran centre Bryan Little was asked to explain his team’s recent slump.

After convincing wins over the Arizona Coyotes and St. Louis Blues the week before, Winnipeg was now losers of two straight. Both losses were against good teams in the Anaheim Ducks (a 3-2 loss Monday) and the Sharks, with each game decided by a single goal.

“It seems like the last two games we’ve found ways to lose,” said Little. “We got to find out how to win those one-goal games.”

Little’s comment is not unique. It’s a sentiment often heard across the NHL, the importance in winning close games.

Success is usually credited to an ability to find that extra gear late in a game when trailing, or being able to protect leads when up.

It’s no coincidence that every team currently in a playoff spot has a strong record in one-goal games, with perennial winners such as the Chicago Blackhawks, who are 18-7-5, and Pittsburgh at 13-0-5, among the best.

Upon further reflection, Little’s assessment applies not only to the Jets’ last two games, but for almost every one-goal game over the past seven weeks.

The Jets boast a modest record this season in one-goal games, with a 9-9-4 mark heading into tonight’s match against the Chicago Blackhawks. But it’s been particularly tough sledding of late, with the Jets losing eight of their last nine contests (1-6-2) decided by one goal.

Here’s a look back at how each of those eight losses played out and how the Jets managed to lose in what — at least on paper — appears to be a close games.

 

Jan. 24 vs. San Jose – SJ 4 WPG 3

The Jets trailed twice through the first two periods only to answer back each time to make it a 2-2 game heading into the third. Bryan Little would eventually give the Jets their first lead, scoring four minutes into the final frame with his 12th goal of the season and second of the game.

The game took a sudden turn minutes later while Winnipeg was on the power play. Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba was tagged with a questionable slashing call on Melker Karlsson, who was then awarded a penalty shot.

Melker scored on the ensuing breakaway for the short-handed goal, shifting the momentum over to the visitors. The Sharks completed the comeback minutes later when Patrick Marleau, gone undetected, scored on a cross-ice pass from Ryan Carpenter.

Post-game quote: “We played hard and were hard on pucks. I didn’t see any difference in the teams.” – Paul Maurice.

 

Jan. 23 vs. Anaheim – ANA 3 WPG 2

A hot start by the Jets is stymied by an even quicker response from the visiting Ducks. Andrew Copp provides the Jets with a 1-0 lead just 2:14 into the game, but Anaheim rebounds with two goals in a span of one minute and 25 seconds.

Adding insult to injury, the Ducks’ first goal is short-handed and the second beats Ondrej Pavelec from a bad angle.

After Anaheim increases their lead to 3-1 with a power-play marker midway through the third period, Nikolaj Ehlers makes it a one-goal game at the 12:53 mark. The Jets press for the equalizer, including some quality opportunities on a late power play, but end the game 0-for-5 on the man advantage and no points to show for their efforts.

Post-game quote: “Sometimes, the score isn’t always a good indicator. Just because we lost the game doesn’t mean we got our asses kicked all night.” – Blake Wheeler

 

Jan. 14 @ L.A. – LA 3 WPG 2 (OT)

A defensive breakdown deep in the Jets zone leads to a goal by Kings forward Marian Gaborik, giving L.A. a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.

The Jets, having scored seven power-play goals in their previous eight games, answer back with the first of two goals on the man advantage. Drew Stafford makes it a 2-2 game in the second period with his fourth of the season and Dustin Byfuglien puts the Jets up 3-2 at the 7:38 mark of the third.

Then, with only minutes remaining in the game, the Jets are outnumbered in front of the net, with Dustin Brown finding a loose puck that beats Michael Hutchinson, tying the game at 3-3.

In overtime, it’s the Jets who get the first good chance as Blake Wheeler sends Byfuglien in alone, but he’s unable to beat Kings goalie Peter Budaj. On the ensuing shift, Kings forward Jeff Carter converts a nice pass from Jake Muzzin on a 2-on-1 to end the game.

Post-game Quote: “The way that we played tonight is going to get us a lot more wins than losses, usually. Unfortunately we didn’t get the two points but we’re going to try and bubble this up a little bit.” – Drew Stafford

 

Jan. 13 @ Arizona – ARI 4 WPG 3

The Coyotes were ripe for the picking, having won just once in the last 10 games and scoring just 19 goals in the last 11.

Shawn Matthias wastes little time getting the Jets on the board with his sixth of the season coming at the 3:43 mark of the first. After that, it’s all Coyotes as they rally for three straight goals to chase Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck from the net before adding a fourth on Hutchinson to end the first period with a commanding 4-1 lead.

After a scoreless second period, the Jets begin to chisel away at the lead. Mark Stuart, playing in his first game since Nov. 29, scores his first of the season to cut the Coyotes’ lead to two goals. Then, with the Jets’ net empty, Blake Wheeler makes it 4-3, but Winnipeg is unable to get the equalizer.

Frustration hits a boiling point after the game as the Jets hold a players-only meeting after the game. As for Hellebuyck, he has yet to earn a start since.

Post-game quote: “What do you think…you think we were just silent in here with the door shut? Obviously there’s a conversation had between us and obviously I’m not going to give you anything that was said in this room.”

 

Jan. 7 @ Buffalo – BUF 4 WPG 3

Looking to cap off a successful road trip after wins over Tampa Bay and Florida, the Jets arrive in Buffalo, which had dropped seven of their last nine games, for a chance to earn their first three-game winning streak of the season.

Things go well for Winnipeg, as the Jets outplay the Sabres through the first 40 minutes to take a 3-1 lead into the third period. It’s there, however, where the wheels falls off.

Buffalo ties the game with goals from Marcus Foligno and Zemgus Girgensons just 26 seconds apart. When it looks as if things couldn’t get any worse for the Jets, all-star rookie Patrik Laine is struck with an open-ice hit from Sabres defenceman Jake McCabe and is forced to leave the game with a concussion.

The hit ignites the Sabres, who complete the comeback midway through the period, limiting the Jets to just five shots in the final 20 minutes.

Post-game quote: “You got to chew on this one for a while because we played so darn well and we were pretty dominant. At the end of the second (period), our game was about as good as it can be. You have to build on that but, it’s going to be tough to let that one go.” – Paul Maurice

 

Dec. 11 @ Edmonton – EDM 3 WPG 2

Reeling from a disappointing 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames the night before, the Jets get off to a strong start against a skilled Oilers team. Mathieu Perreault, stationed in front of the Edmonton net, gets a fortuitous bounce off the post and onto his stick to put the Jets up 1-0 after the first period.

The hockey gods favour the Jets once more in the second period. After swapping goals, the Oilers appear to tie the game when Zack Kassian sneaks in behind the Jets defence and beats Connor Hellebuyck. But the goal is challenged by the Jets and is determined to be offside, resulting in no goal.

That would set the stage for one of the most bizarre events of the Jets season. With Oilers forward Mark Letestu tying the game at 2-2 on the power play early in the third period, Edmonton took the lead on an own goal from Patrik Laine. On the play, Letestu let a shot go from the right side and when it bounced to Laine in the slot, the 18-year-old shot the puck right into the middle of the net for the eventual game-winning goal.

Post-game quote: “I don’t know. I just tried to get rid of the puck right away. It was just a bad decision for me and an unfortunate goal.” – Patrik Laine

 

Dec. 8 vs. New York – NYR 2 WPG 1

The Rangers enter the game averaging 3.56 goals per game, the most of any team through the first 27 games of the season.

Winnipeg is able to limit New York to just two goals, but are only able to score one.

Chris Kreider opens the scoring for New York in the first, while Mark Scheifele evens the game at 1-1 in the second.

Despite having a combined 15 shots on net, the Jets are exhibiting some of their best defensive play of the year. That is, until an ill-timed high-sticking penalty on Drew Stafford with under three minutes to go in the third period puts the Jets down a man.

New York scores with just 13 seconds remaining on the power play after a shot from Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh redirects off the stick of Adam Lowry and right to Kevin Hayes at the side of the net for an easy goal. Rangers win.

Post-game quote: “What we can learn from this game is that we can play with these types of teams, we can play with the best teams in this league, and we want to be one of those teams. We got to shake this one off and keep building.” – Nikolaj Ehlers

 

Dec. 6 vs. Detroit – DET 4 WPG 3 (SO)

The Jets put together their best first period of the season. With goals from Andrew Copp, Dustin Byfuglien and Patrik Laine, Winnipeg holds a commanding 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.

But that is where the Jets peak, getting progressively worse at the game moves on. Detroit scores twice in the second period to tie it, 3-3, and the Jets get little going the rest of the way, including just three shots in the third period.

With overtime solving nothing, the Wings take it in the shootout, scoring twice to the Jets one goal.

Post-game quote: “Up 3-1, we need to stomp on their throats and we weren’t able to do it. (We) kind of let them hang around.” – Andrew Copp