Post-Game Talk: Blues 5 - Jets 2 Series tied at 3

[hockeyarena]

Franchise altering game 7. Career altering game for hellebuyck (and realistically probably scheifele at 31). You either rise to the occasion or become arguably the most consistent choker of all time. This sounds dramatic but Sundays game dictates the next decade for the jets.

 

[Jet]

I'll pile on as a Debbie Downer, here.

Of course I'll cheer on the boys and hope they win game seven, but logically, for what?

If we can't get even average goaltending against and average offense, what shot will we have against a team like Colorado, Vegas or Edmonton?

The bigger concern I have is we have this pumpkin signed for 7 more years.

Oh well, I have cruises booked over the next couple of months, I guess I won't have to worry about missing games.

 

[Mud Turtle]

It seems that Helybuck is a regular season goalie and doesn’t react well to the pressure of playoffs. BUT it’s not all on the goalie when a team loses a game. However it can’t be overlooked that he has been pulled in 3 games.

 

[Mooche]

I disagree -
The Blues came out with a game plan to screen Helle -
Throw the stats out the window - what they don't tell you is how the other team is executing their offense.
It's pretty obvious that the way to score on Helle is to screen. They did it LY pretty much the exact same way.
And we continue to struggle with keeping that middle ice clear.

Helle's wheels fall off when he isn't seeing the puck - and it impacts the rest of the game for him, and for the team.
That's the problem - our blueline cannot clear the middle ice - none of them. All the Blues need to do is review LY's tape to see how our D and Helle, struggle when things are clogged up down the middle.

So what's the answer? How do we convince our d to do the work needed to win those battles? Or can they? I really don't know. All I do know is that our guys do not look like they are working in over drive - I don't see that extra gear engaged. Is it compete? Do our guys lack that edge you need to fight those battles? And here's the kicker - PO's is all about the battles that you don't necessarily see in the reg season. And that is why you see teams with less talent, battling hard in the PO's - they know it can be the difference maker when you are out skilled. And they know which teams are most susceptible (and are proven susceptible).

So why are we losing the battles?

Side note: Helle is not going to bounce back if we continue to allow teams to screen him. He does not do well when screened and then it snowballs to the point everyone is rattled - and I don't see that changing in the next 2 days. We can continue to call him out when it hits the fan (again) - or we can deal with the issue that he has already called out in LY's season ending presser.

Sorry Low, I just can't get there anymore with this, personally.

I'm not arguing the Jets' D doesn't effectively clear the net. It's not good enough from them and hasn't been in b2b years. That said, the opposition gets paid, too.

It's the playoffs. Players are going to sell out and go to the dirty areas. As a goalie, you're not going to see every puck, you're not going to get every favorable bounce - you need to battle for space and own your crease. Not be a shrinking violet in the net.

On top of that, Helle had a really good view on that Schenn third goal which was a dagger. You can't have a Hart candidate goalie falling apart to levels where you'd have Timbit goalies making that save in their sleep. Totally inexcusable.

You want to be touted as the best goalie in the world? You need need to be able to work through f***ing screens in the playoffs. You also need to have the mental fortitude to not let 3 goals in a matter of minutes when a tough one gets past you.

 

[Jet]

I disagree -
The Blues came out with a game plan to screen Helle -
Throw the stats out the window - what they don't tell you is how the other team is executing their offense.
It's pretty obvious that the way to score on Helle is to screen. They did it LY pretty much the exact same way.
And we continue to struggle with keeping that middle ice clear.

Helle's wheels fall off when he isn't seeing the puck - and it impacts the rest of the game for him, and for the team.
That's the problem - our blueline cannot clear the middle ice - none of them. All the Blues need to do is review LY's tape to see how our D and Helle, struggle when things are clogged up down the middle.

So what's the answer? How do we convince our d to do the work needed to win those battles? Or can they? I really don't know. All I do know is that our guys do not look like they are working in over drive - I don't see that extra gear engaged. Is it compete? Do our guys lack that edge you need to fight those battles? And here's the kicker - PO's is all about the battles that you don't necessarily see in the reg season. And that is why you see teams with less talent, battling hard in the PO's - they know it can be the difference maker when you are out skilled. And they know which teams are most susceptible (and are proven susceptible).

So why are we losing the battles?

Side note: Helle is not going to bounce back if we continue to allow teams to screen him. He does not do well when screened and then it snowballs to the point everyone is rattled - and I don't see that changing in the next 2 days. We can continue to call him out when it hits the fan (again) - or we can deal with the issue that he has already called out in LY's season ending presser.

This is a weak f***ing argument. Screening the goalie has been a thing for as long as I've been alive. If you can't find a way through it as a goalie then you're not a very good goalie.

It also doesn't explain the absolutely putrid unscreened easy goals Hellebuyck has given up.

Just. Not. Good. Enough.

 

[Fatdrunk]

Well, that sucked. On to the next one. I give this game one "poo emoji" out of five...

The Prediction Contest for Game Seven against the B-Lose has been posted for your guesses. A big thank you to @Zhamnov5GoalGame for another fantastic GDT. Sorry I didn't thank you earlier, but I was driving around Drumheller avoiding some dinosaurs. A shout out to @Luc Labelle who will be making the next GDT. Can't wait! I should be home just before puck drop on Sunday, so I hope to see you all then. Good night...

OMG The plumbing in Alberta is terrible....

 

[GrassyKnoll]

I can't defend Helle on the weak goals he allowed in the games in St. Louis, nor will I defend the lack of grit & toughness from the rest of the Jets, especially allowing all the screening of Helle. But despite the urges of some here to sh:t on Helle, YOU CAN'T STOP WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE. The Jets are getting out-muscled (again) This team is NOT built for the playoffs. I said it after the end of both the Colorado & Vegas series. Look at Florida last year. Big, mean, nasty & relentless. Though they had their "collapse" issues after they were up 3-0 in the finals, they eventually got the job done. I'm not saying we have to goon it up, but if we're not gonna trade Scheif, KFC or Ehlers, then get a couple of big, nasty wingers with a bit of skill to ride shotgun on at least the 1st 2 lines (a few biiger d-men won't hurt. And dump Stanley & Schenn to anyone dumb enough to take them). I'm not as much of an expert as many on here & I may be stating the obvious, but the regular season increasingly means jack sh:t, compared to the playoffs. Skill & finesse aren't enough anymore. We need more toughness, physical & mental. Add to that more HEART.

Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Even though there’s still a Game 7 and possibly another round of hockey, it doesn’t feel premature to write the postmortem on this team.

Flimsy C depth that didn’t get addressed at the TDL. Somehow made our D worse overall with brutal Luke Schenn acquisition and continuing to dress him. Forwards (*cough* Appleton) that really shouldn’t be NHL regulars. Key defensemen playing like shit when it matters most, just like last playoffs. And last but not least, our Vezina and possible Hart winning goalie turning in an EBUG level performance.

Still invested in this team as always, and will be thrilled to see another round of playoff hockey. No longer feeling any hopes or aspirations for a championship with this group; they are a house of cards.

 

[Aries56]

I'm not concerned with Hellebuyck at all. He let in a couple bad ones, but the other 3 happened because the team was imploding in front of him. That's what happened in Game 3 + 4 also.

The team abandoning the system, chasing pucks, losing puck battles because they're shook from St Louis scoring a goal - that's concerning to me.

 

[Fatdrunk]

@White Out 902 is posting up a storm on Calgarypuck.com.

How long will it be until he wears out his welcome there as well

 

[LowLefty]

This is a weak f***ing argument. Screening the goalie has been a thing for as long as I've been alive. If you can't find a way through it as a goalie then you're not a very good goalie.

It also doesn't explain the absolutely putrid unscreened easy goals Hellebuyck has given up.

Just. Not. Good. Enough.

When you game plan is to screen on every play pretty much, we are no longer talking about "screening" as a routine part of the game - they have determined that this is the way to beat this goaltender and are taking it to another level.
No idea how you see this as a weak argument - and don't really care - it's what's happening out there every night to an extent that makes it pretty obvious that this is more than the odd screen - this is their game plan.
Not making excuses for Helle - simply pointing out that he is not good on a screen and his game falls apart when it's happening all night.
So what can the team do about that? Maybe ramp up their compete a bit and play the game they are capable of playing - the one where they are not giving up the middle ice and giving Helle a line of sight.
I'll take that angle over Helle has f***ing given up - that, IMO, is weak

 

[gojetsgo]

every teams game plan in the playoffs is to get more screens... this isn't rocket science... other goalies fight thru and and don't make themselves as small as possible... pretty sure someone posted a screen shot 2 days ago the helle is actually getting less screens then he did in the regular season, the "he's getting screened" is just a weak and tired excuse from people that can't except that are 3 time vezina winning goalie is giving us echl level goaltending

 

[GNP]

This is a weak f***ing argument. Screening the goalie has been a thing for as long as I've been alive. If you can't find a way through it as a goalie then you're not a very good goalie.

It also doesn't explain the absolutely putrid unscreened easy goals Hellebuyck has given up.

Just. Not. Good. Enough.

Totally agree with this- just excuses, the Jet’s can’t afford to listen too. It’s about reality, and Binnington is getting screened as well, and fighting thru it.

Helle has to look at himself in the mirror, and do some soul searching- no excuses.

It’s now or never.

 

[gojetsgo]

When you game plan is to screen on every play pretty much, we are no longer talking about "screening" as a routine part of the game - they have determined that this is the way to beat this goaltender and are taking it to another level.
No idea how you see this as a weak argument - and don't really care - it's what's happening out there every night to an extent that makes it pretty obvious that this is more than the odd screen - this is their game plan.
Not making excuses for Helle - simply pointing out that he is not good on a screen and his game falls apart when it's happening all night.
So what can the team do about that? Maybe ramp up their compete a bit and play the game they are capable of playing - the one where they are not giving up the middle ice and giving Helle a line of sight.
I'll take that angle over Helle has f***ing given up - that, IMO, is weak

https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jets-Defence.png

after 4 games we've allowed less screenshots on net per game yet were bleeding goals from screens anyways

 

[LowLefty]

Sorry Low, I just can't get there anymore with this, personally.

I'm not arguing the Jets' D doesn't effectively clear the net. It's not good enough from them and hasn't been in b2b years. That said, the opposition gets paid, too.

It's the playoffs. Players are going to sell out and go to the dirty areas. As a goalie, you're not going to see every puck, you're not going to get every favorable bounce - you need to battle for space and own your crease. Not be a shrinking violet in the net.

On top of that, Helle had a really good view on that Schenn third goal which was a dagger. You can't have a Hart candidate goalie falling apart to levels where you'd have Timbit goalies making that save in their sleep. Totally inexcusable.

You want to be touted as the best goalie in the world? You need need to be able to work through f***ing screens in the playoffs. You also need to have the mental fortitude to not let 3 goals in a matter of minutes when a tough one gets past you.

I agree with most of this - Helle has let in some stinkers. Again, I'm not defending him - I'm trying to point out what he struggles with (year over year) and how it impacts him game (where the stinkers start showing up), is known. What can the team do to help? I'd suggest they do they same thing they do during the reg season - do a better job of helping him out.
I appear to be one of the very few that see the issue for what it is - he's not good when screened and then it snowballs- so why wasn't that an issue during the reg season? Because the team did a better job of defending. I get that the PO's are ramped up - when do we ramp up?

 

[gojetsgo]

I agree with most of this - Helle has let in some stinkers. Again, I'm not defending him - I'm trying to point out what he struggles with (year over year) and how it impacts him game (where the stinkers start showing up), is known. What can the team do to help? I'd suggest they do they same thing they do during the reg season - do a better job of helping him out.
I appear to be one of the very few that see the issue for what it is - he's not good when screened and then it snowballs- so why wasn't that an issue during the reg season? Because the team did a better job of defending. I get that the PO's are ramped up - when do we ramp up?

do you know why he has problems with screens? because he doesn't move, sits to far back in his net and makes himself small, it's impossible to box out and allow him to see every single shot and statistically thru 4 games we allowed less in the playoffs then the regular season

 

[sipowicz]

2025 playoffs

Skinner 2 games .810

Hellysuck 6 games .815

 

[LowLefty]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jets-Defence.png

after 4 games we've allowed less screenshots on net per game yet were bleeding goals from screens anyways

No idea how that was evaluated - but there was one goal tonight where there were 8 guys down the middle.
Not sure all screens are equal - but won't debate it.

 

[gojetsgo]

No idea how that was evaluated - but there was one goal tonight where there were 8 guys down the middle.
Not sure all screens are equal - but won't debate it.

oh wow a whole 1 goal! the problem is that majority of the screens don't get saved not just a few have got in and on top of that weak momentum killing goals like the schenn goal, nobody had a problem with the 2nd goal, the 3rd goal was just unacceptable and didn't give the team a chance to regain the momentum

 

[kanadalainen]

Jets will win game 7.


Don't ask me how. I said don't.

 

[LowLefty]

do you know why he has problems with screens? because he doesn't move, sits to far back in his net and makes himself small, it's impossible to box out and allow him to see every single shot and statistically thru 4 games we allowed less in the playoffs then the regular season

I'd like to see him come out more as well -
But I don't know why he has problem with screens - maybe more to it than that assuming these guys could make that adjustment easily if that was all it was.

 

[LowLefty]

oh wow a whole 1 goal! the problem is that majority of the screens don't get saved not just a few have got in and on top of that weak momentum killing goals like the schenn goal, nobody had a problem with the 2nd goal, the 3rd goal was just unacceptable and didn't give the team a chance to regain the momentum

I agree on the third goal

 

[gojetsgo]

I agree on the third goal

and that is exactly why the blame is going on helle, he's played 1 good game this series and this is the second time he's given up back breaking goals in a tight game that basically ended the game before we even had a chance to come back into it

 

[Daximus]

Our boat is anchored to Helle for better or worse until we draft his succesor. With that being said we are still far to light on the wings and our D get pushed around way to much. We really need a 2C, some bigger wingers and some bigger solid two way D for next year or its gonna be the same song and dance. We have some promising young kids and some of them might be able to step in next year but most are a couple years away from making an impact if they pan out. We really need to bring in some fresh bodies this offseason.

 

[LowLefty]

Totally agree with this- just excuses, the Jet’s can’t afford to listen too. It’s about reality, and Binnington is getting screened as well, and fighting thru it.

Helle has to look at himself in the mirror, and do some soul searching- no excuses.

It’s now or never.

The Jets need to ramp up their defensive game - for a full 60 minutes.
I hope they can "afford" to listen - the coach had a similar post game message.