WINNIPEG – After a crazy last few days, the Winnipeg Jets were looking to snap out of a five-game losing streak with the Chicago Blackhawks in town. The Jets had beaten the Hawks three straight times all in Chicago and the Hawks were coming to town in a real snarly mood having been shut out two straight games and winning only one of their last four. The Jets played a solid game only to lose 2-1 in overtime after some fancy stickhandling by Patrick Kane led to a sixth straight loss.
“It was tough to generate [opportunities],” Kane said. “[The win is] big. I think it was a big game against that team and also a big game for our team. It was one of those games where you had to stay patient, keep yourself in the game and just wait for your opportunities.”
Lost in all the turmoil surrounding the Evander Kane saga that has been going on the last few days was that public enemy number one, Dan Carcillo of Chicago, was making his return to the lineup after serving a six-game suspension for his vicious cross check to the arm of Jets forward Mathieu Perreault just before the All Star break. Just under two minutes into the game Chris Thorburn challenged Carcillo and the two dropped the gloves for a pretty one-sided affair as Thorburn got the decision in this one.
The Jets played a very good game in Vancouver only to lose in OT and were looking to build on that in this game. Although this was a low scoring affair it was a rather entertaining contest between the two division rivals. It was a physical battle and there was a lot of yapping going on. It was a neutral zone chess match with tight checking from both teams. A real playoff type game.
“We weren’t happy with where we were coming out of the [All-Star] break with those games, but we’re happy with our [past] two [games],” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “We’d like to have won them. It goes without saying, but we can understand more of what we saw, so now we have a better comfort level of getting back to our game.”
Michael Hutchinson got the start and was sharp although not busy making 20 saves off 22 shots including a couple huge stops off Duncan Keith and Andrew Shaw. It was his first loss to the Blackhawks this season as he has had their number.
Corey Crawford was in the pipes for Chicago and also made 20 saves to get the win. He made a couple huge stops off Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little.
“That was a pretty physical team,” Crawford said. “We just had to be smart with the puck, especially at the end of the third period. We made the right plays when we had to. It’s just a big win for us right now.”
Chicago got goals from Patrick Kane who scored his 28th a beauty as he snapped a laser beam top shelf. Brandon Saad notched his 16th the OT winner after some sweet dangles from Kane.
Jets got their lone goal off the stick of Mark Scheifele who scored his 8th on slick pass from Perreault.
Byfuglien seemed to be fired up as he was moved up front after Evander Kane was scratched and now shut down for the season. Big Buff seemed to be getting chances every time he was on the ice and was also a thorn in the Hawks side banging and crashing as well as getting in the face of Crawford every time the puck was close.
“It was hard for any team to get traction,” Maurice said. “So I think because of the way the game was played, we’re not 100 percent responsible for the way the game is played. [Each] team [has] a [really] big impact. [Each] team [was] kind of doing the exact same things.
“There were just a lot of pucks along the walls. It looked like they were trying to bat a lot of pucks. [Each] team [was not] sure of which way the puck was going on a lot of the confrontations, and it slowed the game down.”
The Jets found out today that Kane will require surgery on his shoulder and be out 4-6 weeks possibly ending all rumors he will be moved before the deadline.
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