Game 45: Blackhawks 2 Jets 1 post-game report

The Jets are now 26-12-7 after 45 games on the season and sit 1st in the central division.

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.

Notable:

– Jets and Hawks couldn’t get much going in the 1st;
– Hawks scored twice in the middle frame, including a weak goal #2 for Chicago;
– Patrik Laine scored his 20th of the season;
– Laine & Wheeler both hit the post with chances to tie the game;
– Hawks goalie Jeff Glass was an absolute star and was the difference in the game;
– Jack Roslovic was moved up to the 3rd line with Copp/Armia in the 3rd
– Roslovic played over 13 minutes of the game, which is the most he has played in an NHL game;
– Jets power play didn’t look very good (0/3) but conversely their penalty kill was solid (3/3).

Health Update:

Hours before the game news broke that Steve Mason was not going to play and that Michael Hutchinson had been recalled on an emergency basis and would back up Connor Hellebuyck.  After the game coach Maurice indicated that his goalie “got back to the hotel and he wasn’t feeling really good at all.  We didn’t want to take any chances with his past history, we think he’s fine, we will know tomorrow.”  Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun asked if he took a shot up high in practice to which the coach responded “I checked on him and he said he was fine. So he finished practice and then we got back from the rink, he wasn’t feeling very good so we brought another guy in, didn’t want to put a sick goaltender in the net.”  When pressed further if Mason’s status was related to his past concussion coach Maurice said “I have no idea.  I can tell that emphatically that I have absolutely no idea what its related to.”

Audio:

Blake Wheeler

Patrik Laine

Coach Maurice:  Thoughts on the first 40 minutes.  Hitting the post (multiple times) for the Jets.  Challenges the Hawks present in the neutral zone.  Status of Steve Mason.  Will Mason dress tomorrow?  More on Mason.  Who starts tomorrow?  Need to rebound quickly.  More on Mason.

Audio courtesy of TSN 1290 Winnipeg.

Up Next:

Jets play tomorrow in Minnesota as they take on the Wild at 6 pm to end this three-game road trip.