Apr 25, 2015
Jets playoff push takes its toll
After getting eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday, Friday was exit meetings and dealing with media scrums for the final time for the Winnipeg Jets, who lost to a very good Anaheim team. Yes, all teams are dealing with injuries but as TSN's Dennis Beyak writes, it became evident that the push to make the playoffs took its toll.
By Dennis Beyak
After getting eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday, Thursday was an off-day for the Winnipeg Jets and Friday was exit meetings and dealing with media scrums for the final time.
The Jets lost to a very good Anaheim team, and yes, all teams are dealing with injuries. But for the Jets, it became evident that the push to make the playoffs took its toll. Up to five players may require surgery. From Andrew Ladd needing to repair a sports hernia to Jacob Trouba playing with a broken bone in his hand, the injuries were plenty. Mathieu Perreault's ankle was never right after the high sprain, then in Game 2 he ripped ligaments off his hand. Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little both played with rib issues and a couple of shoulders may have to be surgically repaired in the off-season. But all stayed in the lineup. "As long as you feel you can contribute, you stay in," said the captain Ladd.
The final 20 games were a challenge, both from a standings standpoint and an opposition standpoint. Many games were against the NHL's elite. They met St. Louis four times. They also faced Chicago, Nashville, Tampa, Washington, Montreal, New York Rangers and Minnesota. Then home losses to Chicago and the Rangers put all the pressure on a three-game road trip with games in Minnesota, St. Louis and Colorado. A bad trip and it would be out of the playoffs again.
That leads us to Ondrej Pavelec, who recorded three straight shutouts on that trip leading the Jets to the post-season for the first time since relocation. The season tested Pavelec's character and mental strength. "It was not an easy season," was how he termed it Friday. A good start, allowing 41 goals in 19 games, then a stretch where he played in only 19 of 45 games as Michael Hutchinson took over. Fast forward to March 10 in St. Louis; Jets down 4-1 going into the third, Pavelec starts the third. Jets were shorthanded four times in that period, including a lengthy stretch of down two men, were outshot 16-6 but found a way to tie the game. Then "the goal". A floater from centre with a minute left finds the back of the net. Game over. Heartbreaker, tough pill to swallow – use whatever adjectives you like.
"I wasn't sure I'd get a chance to play again for this team," said Pavelec on Friday. "Glad I didn't play the next game." But after the Jets lost in Florida, Pavelec got the call in Tampa in the final game of the trip. Down 1-0 in the third, the Jets scored two for the win and Pavelec played 10 of the next 11 until the Jets clinched. Chants of Pavy, Pavy were abundant down the stretch and in the playoffs. "We can finally say we were good enough to make the playoffs. Really proud of us making the playoffs."
At the end of last season, Kevin Cheveldayoff and Paul Maurice both gave Pavelec their full support, vowing to be a better defensive team and help Pavelec and the team bring down the goals against numbers. "Absolutely we were better defensively," continued Pavelec. "It was a huge step forward, 99 points, we played really good hockey. We deserved to make the playoffs." The team set a new mark for fewest goals against, Pavelec set personal bests in shutouts in a season, goals against average and save percentage. Pavelec is now off to the World Championship where he will play for the host Czech Republic team. "It's Prague, it's my hometown, I'm excited."
The season for Trouba? "How our team came together will stand out." Blake Wheeler called it "a year of growth. There's a foundation now on how we do things. We play in the toughest division in hockey. We set a benchmark of what it means to be a Winnipeg Jet."
No Jets player made more progress this season than Adam Lowry. "The team and the organization made tremendous strides, but there is work to do. There are a lot of good teams in the west," said Lowry. His development got fast tracked, as it did for Mark Scheifele, as both moved up the depth chart when Little got hurt early March and missed 11 games.
Ladd was asked about being here going forward. He has one year left on his contract. "I like what's going on here. Excited for the years to come. Our two young centremen played big minutes. We set a standard this year." When asked if he was open to an extension, "yes" was the quick answer from Ladd.
Coach Paul Maurice said he enjoyed coaching this team more than any other team he has coached. "I never had to worry about them working hard and being ready to play." On next season, Maurice was quick to point out that making the playoffs is not a guarantee. "There are teams every year that make the playoffs one year and miss the next. The expectation going forward is a huge challenge." He liked the way his team played, "getting consistent with that game is the next step. Re-establish where we are is priority number 1 going into next season. How we are supposed to move as a group of five. We are 60-70 per cent where we need to be on systems learned." As for playoffs, "now we know how hard it is to get there and how intense it is once you get there." He was very impressed with his leadership group. "That room is an important piece of who we are."
Cheveldayoff was last to address the media. "Real proud of this group. We will try and keep as much of the group together as we can. We need to keep pushing the level of expectiations. You still have to EARN your way into the playoffs." On the future, "we are big, fast and physical. We want to continue down that road."
For the second straight year, Connor Hellebucyk will be part of the U.S. team at the Worlds, but unlike last year, will play a much bigger role.