After a 5-3-1 start, the Jackets ran into the buzzsaw that is the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets came into the game having lost only one of their first ten games. They controlled the play for the vast majority of the game and came away with an easy victory.
1st Period
Elvis was forced to make a stretching kick save during the first shift. The puck bounced off the wall behind him and fell on a Jets stick. You’ve got to love him picking up right where he left off on Wednesday.
The Jackets spent a lot of time in their own zone in the first five minutes, but they did a great job of defending the cycle. Unfortunately, Ehlers pulled a surprise slapshot when entering the zone, using the defender as a screen. That shot made it 1-0.
WPG Goal 1-0: Ehlers (Miller) 5:13
The pace the Jets were playing at seemed to catch the Jackets off guard. Neutral zone transitions were sloppy, and any zone entries were quickly gobbled up. Monahan did manage a grade-A chance on a half-breakaway but shot the puck directly into Comrie’s glove.
The Jackets started to settle in and push back. They managed a couple of cycles before tying the game. A cycle led to JvR handling the puck behind the net. A centering pass found Kuraly, who beat Comrie blocker side.
CBJ Goal 1-1: Kuraly (van Riemsdyk) 11:01
Ehlers decided to show off in this game. After a failed zone exit by the Jackets, Ehlers shot the puck around the Jackets defender, toward a screened Merzlikins, and beat the goalie far side. Great individual effort – nothing anyone could have done about that one.
WPG Goal 2-1: Ehlers (unassisted) 15:14
Marchenko and Fantilli had an opportunity to tie the game on a 2-on-1, but Marchy held onto the puck a bit too long, giving the Jets defenseman enough time to disrupt the pass.
Overall, it was a decent period for the Jackets. They were a bit off-kilter to start the game but settled in well. Unfortunately, they got beat twice by the individual effort of a single player, Nikolaj Ehlers.
2nd Period
The score went to 3-1 when Appleton shot the puck through traffic. It ping-pong balled past a screen and then Elvis. Again, the Jets expertly screened the goaltender.
WPG Goal 3-1: Appleton (Pionk, Lowry) 2:20
There was a scary moment when Olivier pushed Namestnikov into the Jackets’ net. Both Namestnikov and Elvis went down hard, but both players ended up being fine.
Speaking of scary, the Jets and their league-leading power play got their first man advantage when Voronkov went to the box for slashing. Fortunately, Elvis made several saves, and the kill was successful.
As time wound down in the period, the Jackets got their first crack at the power play when Scheifele tripped Sillinger. It took only seven seconds for Werenski to rip a point shot that deflected off of Monahan’s stick and into the net.
CBJ PP Goal 3-2: Monahan (Werenski, Marchenko) 16:29
After playing well for the first 39 minutes, Elvis made his first mistake of the night. He dove at a bouncing puck in front of the net, and the puck bounced off of Severson’s skate and onto (you guessed it) Ehlers’ stick. Hat trick.
Elvis can’t try to take matters into his own hands in those situations. Trust your defense and stay in the net.
WPG Goal 4-2: Ehlers (unassisted) 18:50
With 45 seconds left, the Jackets got their second power play. No dice as the second period came to an end.
3rd Period
The Jets killed off the remainder of their penalty to start the third.
It was all Jets in the first five minutes of the period. The Jackets were on their heels, and Elvis was forced to make several saves.
Comrie robbed Danforth with a blocker save off a nice pass from Aston-Reese. There would need to be more opportunities like that for the Jackets to have a chance to cut the lead.
Not that they needed it, but the Jets got a lucky break and some help from the refs when Olivier and Namestnikov went hard into the corner. Namestnikov lost an edge, and Olivier was called for cross-checking.
Bad call. Goal. It’s like clockwork. Morrissey cranked a slap shot from the point to make it 5-2.
WPG PP Goal 5-2: Morrissey (Scheifele, Ehlers) 11:39
An absolutely ridiculous play by Connor led to another goal.
WPG Goal 6-2: Vilardi (Connor) 14:54
Mercifully, the final horn did eventually sound.
Final Thoughts
The Jets played like the #1 team in the league, and the Jackets played like a team missing two top-six forwards. Ehlers had a stellar night, and the Jets controlled the play for most of the 60 minutes, but I thought the Jackets’ play was admirable despite being outskilled by a more experienced team.
Elvis’ next start will be a test for him. Can he forget about this game? He played fine and was mostly a victim of circumstance.
The Jets aren’t going to lose many games if they continue playing like that.
Up Next
The Jackets are right back at it for a very rare early Saturday game in Washington. The puck drops at 5:00 PM ET.