NEW YORK – The Jets were coming off a tough loss to the New York Islanders where a slow start and costly penalties were the difference in a 4-2 loss. They were facing another tough test ending their four-game road swing at Madison Square Garden facing a very tough Rangers team .The Jets bounced back in a big way with a huge 4-1 win giving them three wins on this four game trip.
“Today’s game was very important for us, because it was a playoff team coming off a real disappointing loss on back-to-back nights,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “What we did here, we did last year consistently. Every team needs to find its identity and needs to prove to itself that it can do it. Even if you’ve done it all of last year, it’s a new year and it’s really important mentally for the psyche of our team in terms of how we handle adversity.”
This was a back and forth game with both teams firing on all cylinders although the Rangers took it to the Jets in the second period, Winnipeg ran into some penalty trouble but the penalty killing group weathered the storm and the team got some solid goaltending from Michael Hutchinson who was outstanding.
Hutchinson was making his second start of the season and kicked out 40 of 41 shots and was named the game’s first star. He earned his second win of the season.
Henrik Lundqvist wasn’t as busy as he stopped 25 shots in taking the loss for the New York.
“Today’s game was very important for us, because it was a playoff team coming off a real disappointing loss on back-to-back nights,” Maurice said. “What we did here, we did last year consistently. Every team needs to find its identity and needs to prove to itself that it can do it. Even if you’ve done it all of last year, it’s a new year and it’s really important mentally for the psyche of our team in terms of how we handle adversity.”
Winnipeg got goals from Nik Ehlers his first career NHL goal, Bryan Little scored a pair his first and second of the year, Mark Stuart scored an empty netter his first.
“I really liked our penalty kill, it got better, and I really liked our composure,” Maurice said. “That’s the key piece to it. Back-to-back nights we had a run of penalties, but didn’t lose our focus, got the kill, got stronger, and a real nice payoff on it for doing the right things.”
It was a special night for Ehlers who scored a beauty on the power play for his first goal after some nice work from Drew Stafford and Tyler Myers who drew helpers on the rookie’s first goal. Something he will remember forever and scoring it in the famed Garden makes it even more special.
Little had a huge game for Winnipeg as his two goals were scored shorthanded and on the power play. His shorty turned the table for the jets as they were hanging on before he sniped his 1st to give them the lead after two periods.
Special teams were the difference as the Jets scored two power play markers and a shorthanded goal.
Dustin Byfuglien who left yesterdays game with a leg injury showed no ill effects as he logged almost 22 minutes of ice and had an assist .
The Jets will head home and open up on Friday against the Flames and will be home for the next six.
“It’s a good start, especially with the fact that we know we have a ways to go and we can keep getting better,” Ladd said. “We just gotta keep building, and in this League you take the points whenever you can get ’em.”
Notes – Adam Pardy got into the lineup for Winnipeg for his first game of the season as the Jets scratched Ben Chiarot, Paul Postma and Anthony Peluso.
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