Winnipeg Jets

Gone in 62 Seconds: Jets Edition
April 5, 2017, 10:45 AM ET [9 Comments]
Peter Tessier
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Normally Jets fans are accustomed to seeing the leads of the Jets evaporate but not so last night in St. Louis at the Scott Trade Centre. While the home team took advantage of train wreck type defence from the Jets early for a 1-0 lead the rest of the first period was tentative and rather boring. Then the second period started.

First Patrick Laine potted his 35th of the year in front of the net at 1:47 of the first. Then amidst a pressing Jets attack Nik Ehlers picked up a loose puck and took it back around the Blues net for an easy wrap around for his 25th of the season at 2:01. It took only another 48 second for the most unlikely of goal scorers to make it a two goal lead for the Jets in just 62 seconds from tying the game. That's when Mark Stuart launched a point shot that went up and over Jake Allen and into the net.

While the Blues managed to get one back to make it 3-2 before the close of the period the effort was fleeting. But this point the Jets were flying and the likes of Ehlers, Scheifele, Perreault, Wheeler and Laine were getting all sorts of looks.

Before the third period had hit the five minute point Mark Scheifele had his 31st of the year as he fired a shot Allen saved but in his glove behind the goal line. The officials waved off the goal but Blake Wheeler was there to protest and suggest a replay. This part was the interesting because the reviewers for the NHL have ruled both ways in the past. You could see the puck had entered the glove but you could not see the puck in it. However on two angles you could see the glove, with the puck already in it but not visible, well behind the goal line. It counted and it should have but one can never count on the NHL review being consistent.

The Jets eventually put the game away four minutes later when Perreault fed Laine for another one of his bullet one-timer shots. This was not a perfect feed and you could see Laine decide not handle the puck and draw it back instead he moved his feet and body to rip it giving Allen no time to set up. 5-2.

The Blues pressed on Hutchinson but the back up goalie for the Jets held firm and continued playing his best hockey of the season, much like the team and much like past years once the group was officially eliminated from the post season.

Both Jack Roslovic and Kyle Connor were called up from the Moose and spent the game in the press box. It's expected that Roslovic will get his debut Thursday night in Columbus his home town. Today the Jets recalled Eric Comrie as it's believed there might be an issue with Hutchinson's arm from the game last night. It's possible that should the coach choose there could be more players from the Moose playing on the Jets than players that started with the Jets if my math is right. (it usually isn't).

So the fall out from last night on social media was somewhat predictable but not wrong. Those fans feeling good about a 5 game win streak for the Jets to finish the season were easily match by those that felt it was a meaningless effort against teams playing at 80% to prevent injury and get rest. Then there was the question of momentum and habits, that likely will be lost by the time training camp and preseason roll around in the fall.

Wanting to feel positive about another tough season is not a bad thing but doing so absent of reality is probably not the best way to do it. The basic fact is long gone are the days when Jets fans on mass would cheer for even the most benign events during a game. They want to cheer for something bigger, a team that has moved away from barely scrapping together a .500 season.

Yes the Jets are ensured another season over .500 in wins and points but that's no longer seen as part of the process or even progress. It's step back and even the most ardent supporter has to no that this level of mediocrity is not acceptable for the majority of the fan base anymore.

So yes a glimpse of the future with Roslovic and Connor is coming, and even perhaps Comrie. But that's not good enough anymore, and nor should it be. The 'wait until next year' attitude after a reasonably strong finish to the season is a hollow cry of hope, not a plan or progress.

The players here, 4 above 60 points, have done their jobs to push this team forward but the holes, the same ones noticed and discussed for years still remain. A feel good ending to another average season will not change that reality. If fans want to be optimistic then know that the top 6 forward group of Schiefele, Wheeler, Ehlers, Laine, Perreault and Little is good, maybe really good but it's creation has come at the expense of other areas and there can be no more excuses made for management not to address those 'other areas'.

That's what this next period of inactivity is all about Jets fans, not building on what a good crop of forwards did but filling the holes and fixing the recurring problems elsewhere. We won't be fooled again come the start of next season.