WINNIPEG - I put new batteries in my Budweiser Red Light prior to puck drop yesterday, expecting the Winnipeg Jets to come out flying and exact revenge on the unfair suspension of Mark Scheifele by outplaying and out scoring the Montreal Canadiens. Instead, we got a Jets team that looked like the squad that won only 3 of their last 10 regular season games.
After a lackluster first period, Tyler Toffoli’s shorthanded goal at 1:41 of the second period was all Montreal needed as the Habs cruised to a 1-0 win and a 2-0 series lead. Carey Price was sensational stopping all 30 Winnipeg shots, 14 of those in the third period as the Jets applied a bit of pressure with an extra attacker in the last few minutes of the game.
The Jets Paul Stastny and Dylan DeMelo did not dress, and with Scheifele out of the line up went with Kristian Vesalainen, Jordie Benn, and Jansen Harkins in their place. All three were nearly invisible. Despite given a major opportunity to shine, Pierre-Luc Dubois logged over 20 minutes of ice time and had 1 shot on net.
The Jets will need to be better tomorrow in Montreal or they could be joining Edmonton and Toronto on the golf course come Tuesday.
What do you think?