For the second time in a week the Jets met the Washington Capitals as they started a three-game road trip, on the heels of a three-game home stand that saw them pick up their first three-game win streak of the season.
After being a healthy scratch Monday Alexander Semin opened the scoring on a pass from Alex Ovechkin and the Caps seemed to get energized by the goal. Andrew Ladd scored his seventh of the year to tie it, but it took the Caps only 12 seconds to regain the lead. But again the Jets responded and Kyle Wellwood's seventh tied it before the first period ended.
A goal and an assist for both Wellwood and Ladd in the first, giving Ladd six points in his last four games, and Wellwood seven points in his last four gmaes. Ladd has four goals in his last six games.
Down 3-2 Jets had a 5-on-3 for over a minute in the second, but failed to score. It was only the third time this season they have enjoyed a two-man advantage.
In the third, despite being outshot 13-6, Bryan Little's fifth of the year tied the game. Little has now scored five goals in his last seven games. Evander Kane put one off the cross bar late in the third and one off the outside of the post in overtime, before Jason Chimera's second of the night ended it. Jets are now 1-4 in extra time (0-3 in overtime, 1-1 in the shootout.)
From Coach Claude Noel's post game news conference: "We were decent. They got energy from the crowd. Our guys played hard in what was a tough, physical game. Them scoring 12 seconds after we scored, and us not scoring on the 5-on-3 could have really hurt us, but the guys battled through it. They responded to adversity, and shows our will to win is there."
Alexander Burmistrov played a season low 7:56. "It was a coaches decision and we will leave it inside the dressing room" is all Noel would say after the game. Ron Hainsey returned to the lineup and played 23:34. Zac Bogosian again led the team in ice time at 27:02. The game marked the return of Eric Fehr to Washington, the team that drafted him.
Jets were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and have now killed off 26 of the last 28. The three shorthanded situations was a step in the right direction for a team that leads the NHL in shorthanded situations. Noel has addressed it, players have addressed it.
The 25 shots marked the first time in time in five games the Jets did not hit the 30-shot plateau.
The Jets flew to Carolina after the game and will play the Hurricanes Friday, then into Boston Saturday. The Bruins are the only east division team the Jets have yet to play. Good chance Chris Mason gets the call Friday. (TSN Jets, TSN 1290)
The Winnipeg media on the trip were invited to the Canadian Embassy Wednesday afternoon for lunch with Gary Doer, the former Premier of the Manitoba, now Canada's ambassador to the United States. We chatted hockey, Grey Cup and a little politics. Was interesting when he revealed that his best memory of Bomber Stadium was when he was young and sold popcorn just so he could get to see some of the game.
