Post-Game Talk: 5 Unanswered Jets win 5-2

[LowLefty]

Exactly, it takes advantage of our skill and speed. No idea why Maurice waited half the season to open things up a bit, maybe management talked to him.

I don't think Mo made any adjustments -
The team is able to open up based on our zone exits which have made a huge improvement since they started moving the puck up the middle rather than around the boards. This exit strategy was obvious tonight and has been the last handful of games.

I believe the plan has always been to be better defensively - but not at the expense of our offense.
Easier said than done but that's to be expected when you ask a team to play the game with the added responsibility of playing well enough in your own end to help support a D core that was also learning to execute a transition game while under enormous pressure - there wasn't a team in the league that didn't try to exploit our D on any given night.

So, now we see our D using short outlets and playing a more heads up game - less panic and less turmoil.
And now you see an O that is able to extend that transition through the NZ and it all looks like we made a change to our O strategy when we actually finally figured out how to exit our zone without leaving our wingers flailing on the boards when our D are dumping at every opportunity.

This all translates to much improved zone entries by several players - not just Ehlers. Less dump and change due to an exhausting 30 seconds of chasing the play in your own end and dumping up the walls at every opportunity.

I'm not pumping Mo's tires here - it just seems obvious to me that the plan was to support our D while they settled in and build on that until we were able to play a more composed game in our own end - there is evidence of that going on right now.

 

[jokesondee]

Ehlers last 15 games = 1 empty net goal

I like Ehlers but ill never understand why so many people on would rather keep him over Connor. Ive taken a beating on here about this debate before. Connor's defensive zone game is trash and needs to improve big time but someone has to score! He's going to be a perennial 40 goal scorer. Those don't grow on trees man. Throw all the fancy stats you want at me, but keeping Ehlers over Connor is crazy talk. I don't want either traded by the way.

 

[roccerfeller]

A bad losing streak took us out the top 3 in division and a good win streak can put us right back in

lots of hockey left

 

[jefferoni]

 

[surixon]

I don't think Mo made any adjustments -
The team is able to open up based on our zone exits which have made a huge improvement since they started moving the puck up the middle rather than around the boards. This exit strategy was obvious tonight and has been the last handful of games.

I believe the plan has always been to be better defensively - but not at the expense of our offense.
Easier said than done but that's to be expected when you ask a team to play the game with the added responsibility of playing well enough in your own end to help support a D core that was also learning to execute a transition game while under enormous pressure - there wasn't a team in the league that didn't try to exploit our D on any given night.

So, now we see our D using short outlets and playing a more heads up game - less panic and less turmoil.
And now you see an O that is able to extend that transition through the NZ and it all looks like we made a change to our O strategy when we actually finally figured out how to exit our zone without leaving our wingers flailing on the boards when our D are dumping at every opportunity.

This all translates to much improved zone entries by several players - not just Ehlers. Less dump and change due to an exhausting 30 seconds of chasing the play in your own end and dumping up the walls at every opportunity.

I'm not pumping Mo's tires here - it just seems obvious to me that the plan was to support our D while they settled in and build on that until we were able to play a more composed game in our own end - there is evidence of that going on right now.

Its not just that. The team is now going to the net and the slot fairly regularly. Our F3 is not nearly as stationary and our dmen are being more aggressive. Our offense isn't being run through our dmen in the ozone anymore. Those are all philosophical shifts by the coaching staff. It most certainly helps our transition and zone entries being able to break things out in our own end but that is only one change.

 

[tbcwpg]

Having been there to see it, the Hawks PP is pure trash. I'd take the Jets PP every day of the week.

 

[GeorgeJETson]

I think that we are seeing a change from the closed-door meetings which were held earlier.

My guess - and only my guess - management voiced their concerns based upon the negative feedback of fans. Maurice probably realized a coaching change needed to happen or he'd be out the door. That, plus the Boston game in which our players got fired up and started being more physical, has resulted in better play of late.

It's anyone's guess how long it'll last. But I'm going to try to enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[surixon]

Ehlers last 15 games = 1 empty net goal

He is still racking up assists at a good clip, is pacing 28 goals and 63 points on the year. Both very solid totals given that he isn't on PP1.

Can't get much better numbers then that from a player on the second line and second PP unit.

 

[LowLefty]

Its not just that. The team is now going to the net and the slot fairly regularly. Our F3 is not nearly as stationary and our dmen are being more aggressive. Our offense isn't being run through our dmen in the ozone anymore. Those are all philosophical shifts by the coaching staff. It most certainly helps our transition and zone entries being able to break things out in our own end but that is only one change.

Everything looks different and everything changes in the O zone when you have the energy to enter and make plays - which is hard to do when you are exhausted from playing most of the shift in our own end.
IMO, these are not shifts by the coaching staff - this is all the result of a learning curve and it's great to see

 

[jefferoni]

 

[Positive]

Ehlers last 15 games = 1 empty net goal

He's actually 3g 8a. But hey why check facts right?

 

[surixon]

Everything looks different and everything changes in the O zone when you have the energy to enter and make plays - which is hard to do when you are exhausted from playing most of the shift in our own end.
IMO, these are not shifts by the coaching staff - this is all the result of a learning curve and it's great to see

Maybe I'm not explaining it well. I personally don't think he's changed his philosophy in the least, what he has done is loosened some of his restrictions in the nz and offensive zone. So same overall system but with more freedom for our skilled players to make plays.

 

[hn777]

I like Ehlers but ill never understand why so many people on would rather keep him over Connor. Ive taken a beating on here about this debate before. Connor's defensive zone game is trash and needs to improve big time but someone has to score! He's going to be a perennial 40 goal scorer. Those don't grow on trees man. Throw all the fancy stats you want at me, but keeping Ehlers over Connor is crazy talk. I don't want either traded by the way.

Taking into account, who is on the ice and who is not is not really fancy stats. Ehlers TOI (and PP time) is middle six usage, and still he is on pace for like 65 points.

Can you mention other players in the league producing like that with middle-6 usage?

We can agree on not trading either

 

[Mud Turtle]

When we play this high tempo game we are a far better team.

Who would have ever thought?
I only got to watch the first two periods and then decided to sneak a peek in here to see the score.
Nicely done Jets!

 

[jefferoni]

 

[NorCalhockey]

Yep,something definitely changed during the Bruins game

Well I guess if this turnaround is due to that gut wrenching loss, then something good came out of it.

 

[LowLefty]

Maybe I'm not explaining it well. I personally don't think he's changed his philosophy in the least, what he has done is loosened some of his restrictions in the nz and offensive zone. So same overall system but with more freedom for our skilled players to make plays.

You explained it very well - I believe I understood your point.
I'm not sure you are understanding mine

I don't believe he made any changes or loosened restrictions- the improved play in the NZ is the result of the improved exits from our end - and this carries right through into the O zone and the style of play we are able to play - it all starts on the D zone and that is where the improvement had to be made before we could realistically expect any improvement in the other zones - IMO

 

[PaulPooley]

I’m really enjoying this stretch and the way they’ve started to play. I don’t want to worry about Ehlers and his recent production.

 

[BoneDocUK]

Maybe I'm not explaining it well. I personally don't think he's changed his philosophy in the least, what he has done is loosened some of his restrictions in the nz and offensive zone. So same overall system but with more freedom for our skilled players to make plays.

I agree that we’re playing a quicker transition game with a more relaxed posture through the NZ and way more emphasis on picking up pucks and then exiting with a quick pass or bank to forwards who are positioned a bit higher than they were and a much more consistent outlet to move it up ice fast.

You’ve also got a rejigged D lineup now that blends strengths much more effectively, JMo and Pionk combine positioning and some aggression with speed and mobility, and that’s mirrored now in the 2nd pairing, a more physical D in Kuli who likes a quick outlet pass with a riskier but also really creative passer and rusher in Niku. I think Sbisa is a stronger player than Pots, but Beaulieu and Poolman should also work well. I also wonder if what we’ve seen recently from Bro and Helle in their willingness to play the puck more — I swear Helle was out of his net tonight as much as he was in it — maybe plays into this emphasis on speed of transition.

I don’t think it’s simp,y that our players have suddenly clued into PoMos system nearly 2/3 of the way through the season. Some new personnel, some tweaks, and a new sense of urgency have also helped, imo. And, of course, our injuries have forced some of this adaptation. I’m sure glad to see it, whatever the causation.

 

[Mud Turtle]

That third line is really clicking. Please maurice let us have a fourth line of perrault Lowry little, actually makes me very excited.

I only wish I could believe this will happen once Lowry returns but Paul Maurice has always shown that Lowry is his go/to third line Center.
Old dogs and all that.

 

[surixon]

I only wish I could believe this will happen once Lowry returns but Paul Maurice has always shown that Lowry is his go/to third line Center.
Old dogs and all that.

Copp is a significantly better C then him imo. Put Lowry as the 4th line C.

 

[WPGChief]

Taking into account, who is on the ice and who is not is not really fancy stats. Ehlers TOI (and PP time) is middle six usage, and still he is on pace for like 65 points.

Can you mention other players in the league producing like that with middle-6 usage?

We can agree on not trading either

Ehlers and Connor's box score rates (i.e. Goals per 60, Points per 60, etc.) at both 5v5 and PP are nearly identical. The difference is Connor gets way more ice time, both at even strength and on the power play, and arguably better "quality of teammates"

 

[hn777]

Agreed. We have found good spots for Niku (Harkins, Appleton, Roslovic) because of the injuries. The top-2 D-pairs have good puck movers now, and the top-3 forward lines are playing quicker now. I'd like to keep these pairs and lines intact even when the injured guys return.

 

[hn777]

Ehlers and Connor's box score rates (i.e. Goals per 60, Points per 60, etc.) at both 5v5 and PP are nearly identical. The difference is Connor gets way more ice time, both at even strength and on the power play, and arguably better "quality of teammates"

exactly

 

[surixon]

You explained it very well - I believe I understood your point.
I'm not sure you are understanding mine

I don't believe he made any changes or loosened restrictions- the improved play in the NZ is the result of the improved exits from our end - and this carries right through into the O zone and the style of play we are able to play - it all starts on the D zone and that is where the improvement had to be made before we could realistically expect any improvement in the other zones - IMO

I understand your point quite well. Just based on Maurice's own comments earlier this year on how he wants the team to play in the ozone vs how they are playing now shows me that there has been a shift. I don't believe that shift is due to now having more energy. Anyhow agree to disagree.

Another interesting wrinkle is that he has elected to spread the talent out a bit more, putting Roslovic down on the third and Appelton up on the second. He is now running more of a three scoring line system. Is it fully injury driven or has he switched his philosophy a bit there. I really hop that we continue with this type of set up when we get Lowry and perhaps Little back.