Comply with us on our Jets Nation socials! X/Twitter: @NHLJetsNation and on Instagram: @JetsNationDotCa
The Winnipeg Jets started their 4 recreation residence stand this afternoon in opposition to the visiting Buffalo Sabres. With solely 12 video games left within the common season, the Jets had their first probability to regulate their very own future when it got here to clinching a playoff spot. With a degree in opposition to the Sabres or a St. Louis Blues loss later within the day, the Jets would lock of their place within the 2024-25 NHL playoffs. The Jets performed effectively, however got here up just a bit quick this afternoon, as they couldn’t handle enterprise, failing to formally safe their spot with a tricky 5-3 loss.
Eric Comrie obtained the beginning in web in opposition to one in every of his former groups, and the remainder of the Jets lineup remained unchanged aside from Logan Stanley slotting in on the third pairing as a substitute of Haydn Fleury. The loss additionally leaves the Jets 2 factors behind the Washington Capitals on the high of the NHL standings, who’ve 102 factors, with the Jets and Capitals assembly in Winnipeg on Tuesday. Right here’s how this Sunday afternoon showdown unfolded at Canada Life Centre.
1st Interval
The Jets began this recreation robust, getting just a few probabilities early as they led in photographs 3-0 after the primary 2 minutes. After 8 minutes, the photographs on aim had been nonetheless solely 3-1 Jets, as this recreation slowed down as each groups regarded to get the primary aim of the sport. The Sabres opened the scoring on simply their third shot of the sport close to the midway mark of the interval. Proper off a faceoff, Ryan McLeod drew it again to Jacob Bernard-Docker, who discovered JJ Peterka close to the appropriate faceoff dot, and he wristed one high nook previous Comrie, giving the Sabres a 1-0 lead.
A couple of minutes later, Mark Scheifele was known as for tripping, giving the Sabres the primary powerplay of the afternoon. The Jets penalty kill dealt with this Sabres alternative with ease, not permitting them any photographs whereas getting an opportunity of their very own shorthanded. A profitable penalty kill appeared to provide the Jets some momentum, as they continued to steer in photographs 10-3 in the direction of the top of the interval. The Jets obtained yet another probability that missed the online simply earlier than the clock ran out, however went into the first intermission down 1-0 regardless of main in photographs 10-3.
2nd Interval
Solely 24 seconds into the 2nd, Connor Clifton obtained known as for holding in opposition to Vladislav Namestnikov. The league’s no 1 powerplay went to work with an awesome probability to tie this recreation up at 1. After getting arrange shortly, the Jets obtained the powerplay rolling. Cole Perfetti discovered Nino Niederreiter down low, who was in search of Namestnikov in entrance, nevertheless it went off the Sabres defender into the online previous Sabres backup goalie James Reimer. Niederreiter’s fifteenth of the season tied this recreation at 1, and the Jets continued to steer in photographs 15-3.
Pushing for his or her first lead of the sport, the Jets had been wanting like the higher group because the early a part of 2nd interval went on. Mason Appleton took an interference penalty in opposition to Alex Tuch, giving the Sabres their 2nd powerplay of the sport. But once more, the Jets penalty kill had a robust show of persistence and shutting down passing lanes. For the second straight powerplay, the Jets didn’t permit a single shot, they usually had been hoping this kill would give them the momentum they wanted to take the lead.
Reimer was preserving the Sabres on this recreation, making some key saves in opposition to the Jets excessive flying offence. Bowen Byram excessive sticked Mark Scheifele with round 8 minutes left within the 2nd, and the Jets powerplay obtained their second alternative of this recreation. Producing 3 photographs on aim, the Jets couldn’t get one previous Reimer on the person benefit, and the sport remained 1-1 late within the 2nd interval. The Sabres took a 2-1 lead with a slapper from Rasmus Dahlin with 1:14 left within the 2nd. Regardless of being the higher group via 40 minutes, the Jets discovered themselves down 2-1 with 20 minutes to play, whereas main in photographs 23-9.
third Interval
The primary 5 minutes of the third had been fairly calm, with each groups getting only one shot every. Each groups had been trying to get that essential subsequent aim, so you can sense that neither group wished to make the following mistake. Quickly after, Scheifele took his second tripping name of the sport, giving the Sabres their third powerplay of the sport. This powerplay was completely different for the Sabres, who had been producing some probabilities after two powerplays with no photographs on aim. After a shot on aim, Tyson Kozak discovered the free puck, backhanding it previous Comrie who was out excessive in his crease, giving the Sabres a 3-1 lead.
Down 3-1, the Jets knew they needed to get one thing going as quickly as doable, they usually did lower than 30 seconds later. Logan Stanley handed one to Mark Scheifele who fired a go throughout to Colin Miller. In prime taking pictures place proper close to the faceoff dot, Miller wristed one up previous Reimer to get the Jets again to inside one aim. Miller snapped a 40+ recreation aim drought for himself along with his third of the season, and the Jets had been down 3-2 on the midway mark on this third.
The Jets obtained their third powerplay of the sport after Mattias Samuelsson interfered with Mark Scheifele. It was a little bit of a bizarre name, however the Jets would take it as an awesome probability to tie this recreation at 3. This powerplay had some good probabilities, however after a diving clear, Ryan McLeod despatched Alex Tuch on a shorthanded breakaway and he made no mistake on his probability, sniping one previous Comrie to provide the Sabres a 4-2 lead.
With 5 minutes to play, the Jets continued to appear like the higher group, main in photographs 29-16, however had been nonetheless trailing the Sabres 4-2. James Reimer continued to make some large saves for the Sabres, till Nikolaj Ehlers scored his twenty third of the season with simply over 3 minutes to go. Ehlers flyed down the wing after assists from Dylan DeMelo and Logan Stanley, and took an absolute clapper that went high proper nook previous Reimer. The Jets weren’t going out quiet this recreation, and the ultimate push with an empty web was quickly to comply with.
The Jets labored it in to the zone, and obtained just a few stable probabilities, however quickly after Ryan McLeod backhanded one excessive and down the ice into the Jets empty web. 47 seconds remained, because the Jets couldn’t get one other one previous Reimer, shedding this recreation 5-3. Closing photographs on aim had been 36-17 for the Jets.
Closing Ideas
This recreation was a tricky one for Jets followers, because it was a recreation they most likely deserved to win. James Reimer received the battle of backup goalies, making large save after large save to maintain the Sabres within the lead at key moments on this recreation. The Jets defensive effort wasn’t that dangerous, there was merely some unlucky performs that didn’t go or bounce the appropriate approach. Jets followers will now be hoping for a St. Louis Blues loss tonight to have the Jets clinch their playoff spot. Up subsequent for the Jets is a tricky take a look at at residence on Tuesday evening, the place the Jets and Capitals, the highest 2 groups within the NHL standings, will battle it out at Canada Life Centre.
