Pavelec won’t talk about it but he’s rebounded nicely from disaster in St. Louis

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This article was published 19/03/2015 (3837 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He shook his head at a questioner Wednesday and refused to go there, even though he may have to tonight against a team that launched a new set of demons at him nine days ago.

Ondrej Pavelec, who would seem to be the logical choice for the starting assignment tonight against the St. Louis Blues, didn’t want to entertain the inquiry about whether Barret Jackman’s shot for a goal from just outside the blue-line March 10 has inspired him or prodded him to be better.

“I’m not going to answer that question,” Pavelec said, having already given himself away with his headshake during the entire — and expected — first question after Wednesday’s practice at the MTS Centre.

“It happened a week ago and it’s not in my head right now. The last two games were really good and there’s another game (ahead) for me and I’m trying to be ready.

“It’s nice to be back in the game for sure and we’ll see how long I’m going to play.”

Since that long shot goal on Pavelec almost surely cost the Jets something in St. Louis, coming with just 1:03 to play, and was especially hurtful because his teammates had just erased a three-goal, third-period deficit against the mighty Blues, Pavelec has gone back in the net twice and done his job rather efficiently.

He defeated the Lightning in Tampa Saturday and comfortably fended off the shot-happy San Jose Sharks here Tuesday after his teammates staked him to an early 3-0 lead.

After Tuesday’s win, Jets coach Paul Maurice described Pavelec as “tough” for having bounced back from a verifiable disaster.

It’s not normally a term used to describe goalies.

“You know what, you play in Canada, you play in a Canadian market, you have to be kind of little bit tougher than somewhere else,” Pavelec said. “But that’s your job, to be ready every game you play and you sit for three weeks, you sit for three weeks. You’ve got to be ready in the next game.

“It’s no big difference, but it’s tough for sure, not playing then you have to jump in and play.

“I’m not the only guy it happened (to). I feel really good right now.”

The extremes Pavelec has witnessed this season — playing and not playing, excelling and struggling, being praised and ridiculed by many in Jets Nation — were not something he cared to talk about either.

“Well, the season’s not over yet,” the goalie said. “I think we’re having a really good season. We are in the playoff hunt. It’s going to be tough. But everybody in here hopes we’re going to make it. So it’s a little bit early to talk about the season. We’ll see after the last game.”

Maurice was asked Wednesday how, if at all, he has challenged or prodded Pavelec in the days since the Blues were gifted a victory.

“In private conversations,” the coach said.

“Other than the coffee machine in the morning, we’re not crossing paths a whole lot. I don’t understand what they do for a living, other than they stop them or they don’t.

“Wade (Flaherty, Jets goalie coach) has done a real good job handling both guys all year, understanding their different personalities and what they need.

“I’ve got enough experience to think that veteran players handle certain challenges and not even by the coach but what the challenges of the games have brought to his doorstep and how they handle them.

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“And maybe a respect for when they do handle them, what that can do for their confidence and what that can do for their game. Other than that, I wouldn’t say I had a speech for him.”

The debate about Jets goalies has raged to varying degrees all season. Maurice said he doesn’t really care how many fans are looking over his shoulder on this matter.

“It’s not meant to be personal — I have no idea,” Maurice said. “I don’t. It doesn’t affect my day. I don’t have a Twitter account. I think there are some with my name on them. I don’t have a Facebook page where I’m posting pictures of the goalies, who’s playing.

“I listen to music in the car and then I watch hockey games and none of the other telecasts I’m watching talk about who I’m playing goal so it doesn’t affect my day. Not one bit.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca