Game 15: Golden Knights 5 Jets 2 post-game report

Game Notes:

Prior to puck drop the atmosphere with thousands of Jets fans inside T-Mobile Arena was energized.   The “Go Jets Go” chant began before anthems and it was a loud True North from the many Jets fans inside the building.

The game opened with a couple of big hits for both teams with a fast paced opening five minutes.  Unlike in the previous six games for the Jets they failed to score the first goal as Lucas Sbisa blasted a shot over Connor Hellebuyck’s glove hand when the Jets failed to clear the puck out of their zone.  David Perron gave the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead with under five to go in the opening frame and it was looking like it could be a long night.  But 39 seconds later with the Vegas goal still being announced Adam Lowry tipped home his first of the year to bring the Jets within one.

Period 2 was a bit of a slower start for both squads to start although Golden Knights goalie Maxime Lagace made a huge save on Mark Scheifele to preserve the one goal lead early.  That was important as William Karlsson helped regain the two goal lead when he was left alone behind all the Jets.  However, Patrik Laine blasted home a power-play goal to make it a one goal game as he scored his fourth game in his last four games, his eighth goal overall.  But then the wheels fell off for Winnipeg as the Golden Knights scored a PP goal when Kulikov failed to clear a puck followed by Karlsson getting his second of the game, shorthanded, to make it a 5-2 game.

The final frame saw the Jets begin with a new goalie as Steve Mason got his first game action since October 27th.  If you expected the Jets to have some jump in the 3rd period you came to the wrong place.  The team just could’t generate much of anything.  Josh Morrissey left late in the period after Jacob Trouba failed to clear a puck out of the Jets zone (which he controlled) and which resulted in a Golden Knights shot that Morrissey blocked.

In the end Vegas picks up the 5-2 win over Winnipeg.  This is just the second time in 13 games the Jets didn’t pick up a point.  Connor Hellebuyck picks up his first regulation loss as his record is now 8-1-2.

The team heads to Arizona tonight for a Saturday night contest against the Coyotes.

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.

Coach Maurice post-game:

The Jets bench boss confirms that Steve Mason gets the start against the Coyotes. Also didn’t have an update on Josh Morrissey.

Scrum Topics: Assessing the game.  Were the Jets looser defensively than they have been of late?  Putting Mason in for the 3rd.  Update on Josh Morrissey?  Thoughts on the Golden Knights.  Was the bigger concern the Jets hands or their feet?