(Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)Finally, the All Star Break is over and the fun begins. With only about 30 games remaining for teams in the league, the gloves are off as teams gear up for their run at the playoffs. The Winnipeg Jets started their quest for the playoffs Tuesday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers. This was the first game for both teams in six days, and it showed. Sure, each team came out to play, there were body-checks, passing and attempted shots on net but the Jets and Flyers seemed out of sync with their positioning. I was expecting a high scoring game as these teams they combined for a total of 27 goals in their previous two games. Not so much this game. The Jets squeaked out a 2-1 shootout victory over the Flyers in a much needed road win.
The first shot on goal in the game didn’t come until the 10:36 mark of the first period. Winnipeg’s Blake Wheeler registered the first shot on net in the game as he fired the puck into Flyer’s net-minder Ilya Bryzgalov’s glove. After that shot, the game’s pace really picked up as both teams seemed to shake the cob webs and get their hockey senses back.
The first goal of the game came late in the first on a Flyers’ power play. I had two issues with how this all developed. First, the penalty that was called on the Jets Chris Thorburn. He was getting physical in the Flyers zone with Scott Hartnell. Both players exchanged shots to the body and head, except it was Thorburn that was eventually called for a roughing penalty. In my opinion, this was a horrible call by the referee. The way both players were at each other, either call both of them for roughing or don’t call anything at all. Mike Johnson, the colour man for TSN Jets, even commented that the shots that Hartnell gave Thorburn weren’t any different than what Thorburn returned with. In fact, Hartnell gave him four shots to the head before Thorburn reacted. Philadelphia scored on the ensuing power play. I felt the referre was too slow at blowing his whistle to stop the play. Isn’t the referre supposed to stop the play once he loses sight of the puck? Either way, I felt in both instances the Jets were robbed, end result 1-0 Flyers.
I was happy how the Jets responded after that goal. Minutes after the Flyers claimed the lead, Blake Wheeler made a sweet cross ice pass over to Bryan Little, who just couldn’t get a good enough handle on the puck for the one timer. Shortly there after, the Flyers raced down the ice into the Jets zone. The Flyers Marc-Andre Bourdon drew three Jets toward him just inside Winnipeg’s blue line. He saw fellow Flyer Sean Couturier on the far side and made a pass to him. Couturier then fired the puck on net, but Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec was ready and made a huge glove save to keep the Jets within a goal. Pavelec made another game saver midway through the third as Hartnell attempted to redirect a pass behind Pavelec.
The Jets continued to press the Flyers in the second period looking for the equalizer…and it didn’t take too long. Thorburn, finally found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Winnipeg’s Nik Antropov made a cross ice pass over to Thorburn who fired a wrist shot past Bryzgalov. You can’t help to feel happy for Thorburn. It was his first goal since March 19,2010.
With no scoring in the third period or the overtime, this game needed a shootout to decide it’s outcome. The only goal scored in the shootout was scored by Winnipeg’s Bryan Little. Although it wasn’t a high scoring game like the previous two meetings, it was a huge road win for the Jets. Hopefully they can build off this for their three remaining games of this road trip.
Up Next
The Jets continue their road trip and get ready for a pair of games in sunny Florida. Thursday night they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The season series between these teams is split at a game apiece, with the most recent game going to the Jets in a 5-2 victory. Between now and the end of the season they have four more games against each other.
