The Winnipeg Jets have put together a decent string of games since the NHL’s All-Star break in January. They have played above .500 hockey and are quickly becoming relevant in the Southeast Division. Before their face-of with the Washington Capitals on Thursday night the Jets were standing only four points behind. Games between division rivals become must wins by the time the calender flips to March. They are looked at to be won without the need for overtime, which makes the points gained have even greater impact in the standings. Tonight’s game was one that could not be settled in even sixty five minutes of hockey, requiring everyone’s favorite coin-toss to decide a winner.
Both goaltenders have been playing good hockey for their respective teams. The first two periods between Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec and The Capitals’ Tomas Vokoun were a feast for goaltending duel lovers. Despite the high volume of shots the score was still tied at zero, several sparkling saves being made at both ends of the ice. It looked like the game may come down to a bounce in the third period, but the Capitals were able to take advantage of a couple Winnipeg penalties midway through the third to begin the game’s scoring.
The power play was in full force for the Capitals tonight once the third period began, both goals by the Alexanders coming with the extra man. Ovechkin took Semin’s shot off the end boards and put it into the far corner, perplexing Pavelec while doing so. Not one to hog the spotlight (ahem) Ovechkin returned the favor to a streaking Semin, depositing the puck behind Pavelec and convincing everyone watching that the game belonged to Washington. As the clock clicked below five minutes the Capitals and their steady netminder Vokoun looked confident of their two points. However, a couple penalty calls took their toll on the Capitals, soon leading to Winnipeg’s first tally.
The penalty call on Brooks Laich for playing with a broken stick in the third period is the correct interpretation of the NHL rulebook. Already shorthanded one man, Brooks’ stick was broken by a shot and he immediately played the blocked puck as neccesary. The problem was that Laich’s stick, despite breaking, was still intact. He certainly wouldn’t have played the puck had he been aware of what happened milliseconds before. As the rule is stated Brooks and the Capitals were guilty and were burned on the resulting six on three. Despite the blow, it would end up being the Jets’ second goal twelve seconds later that was certainly the game’s backbreaker. A center ice shot from Dustin Byfuglien (big man) took a bounce off of Karl Alzner and caught Vokoun cheating to his right. A couple bounces back toward the left put the red light back on at Verizon Center for the road goers. It was clear the game would be decided in extra time, and the Jets had all their mojo working for them.
In the end it was a Blake Wheeler shootout goal, beating Vokoun to his blocker side, that sent Verizon fans home empty handed. Mathieu Perreault, curiously penciled in by coach Dale Hunter at a pivotal third position, was the man who couldn’t carry the Capitals any further. The shootout ended with a fair backhanded attempt and the Southeast rivalry was over. The win puts Winnipeg closer to the Capitals, the Jets now three points behind in third place. Before long the race for the Southeast Division title will have three strong horses running towards April’s finish line. Games against division opponents must be won by the Capitals, especially with a two goal lead and five minutes on the board.
Unfortunately, bad breaks happen.
