Photo Credit: Colby Spence
It was a billed as a battle for 1st place and if so Jets did what they needed to do to maintain their spot atop the division with tonight’s 5-0 win over the Predators to improve to 45-26- 4 on season.
For those who would like to take a deeper dive into the advanced stats here are the results from tonight’s game via Natural Stat Trick.
Gameplay:
– Both teams started this game off on the right skate;
– Jets had some really good chances in the opening frame including a Patrik Laine post;
– In the end neither side could solve the other’s netminder;
– 1st period came exactly as advertised as both the Jets and Predators played hard;
– No score with Nashville holding a 12-8 shot edge.
– Early in the 2nd the Preds thought they opened the scoring but it was ruled a high-stick;
– Kyle Connor opened the scoring with an absolute beauty to give the Jets a 1-0 lead;
– Andrew Copp after missing en empty net, scored from behind the Predators net to make it 2-0;
– And a minute and a half later Kevin Hayes scored a goal that shouldn’t have beat Rinne to make it 3-0;
– Middle frame ends with Jets up 3-0 and outshooting Nashville 19-8 (overall 27-20).
– Jets came out flying to start the final frame outshooting the Preds 7-1 to start the period;
– They increased this to 12-4 and it just didn’t seem like the Jets would take their foot off the gas;
– Two Preds collide in the neutral zone & Kyle Connor who got his 31st goal of season and it is 4-0;
– “First in Central” chant broke out late in the 3rd at Bell MTS Place.
– Kyle Connor’s first NHL hat trick made it 5-0 with nine seconds left in the game;
– Jets win it 5-0 and outshot the Preds 43-33.
Notable:
Kyle Connor gets the 20th hat trick for the Jets since relocation and the first of his NHL career.
Connor Hellebuyck gets his second shutout of the season which is also his second shutout in the last week.
With the win the Jets have punched their ticket to the 2018-19 playoffs.
Multi points games:
– Kyle Connor 3G 1A;
– Kevin Hayes 1G 3A.
Central Standings:
1. Jets 94 points (75 games)
2. Predators 90 points (76 games)
3. Blues 88 points (75 games)
4. Stars 82 points (75 games)
5. Avalanche 80 points (75 games)
Audio:
Blake Wheeler
Connor Hellebuyck
Kyle Connor
Coach Maurice: Assessment of the game. Changes to the lines. Play of the 2nd line. Patrik Laine passing off when he had a chance to score for the hat trick. Getting Connor Hellebuyck’s game to where it was last season. Playing a division rival without taking a single penalty. Compared to the penalty filled 3-0 loss in Nashville, is this a reflection of how far they’ve come? Keeping the foot on the gas in the 3rd period.
Up Next:
The Jets are scheduled to practice on Sunday as they get ready for Dallas on Monday. Kick start your Friday with the AM Jets papers which go live at 7 am on illegalcurve.com.
