Post-Game Talk: Jets final fall to the Knights 2 -1

[Coach]

This was the first game of the series oustide game two where Vegas was the better team.. They wanted it and it looked like we didn't have much left in the tank.

Good for Vegas but they better hope they win this season as they will never get. 950 goaltending and all that puck luck ever again.


I'm proud of the team, they took big strides this season. As far as I am concerned this is only the beginning with this young core.

For next season our young guys need to to have a good off-eason. I would like to see Laine add some speed and quickness.

Moe needs to decide some nlknew breakout systems.

I want to see very player utilization as well like Morrissey on the PP.

Roslovic makes the team full time and hopefully they real him at C

I believe the best save percentage of any goalie to win the Stanley cup is .947 so if he holds over .950 not sure any one should ever expect to beat that.
I think he was over .950 against us. Perhaps not with game 1 added in. Definitely over the last 4 though.

 

[Guerzy]

After game 1 it never felt like our series to win.

 

[Yutronkov]

The Jets remind me of the Blackhawks in 2009. That year the hawks lost in the conference finals to Detroit. We all know what the Hawks did after that....win 3 cups. The big difference of course is they lost to a great veteran team in the Redwings whereas we lost to an expansion team playing well above their heads. It sucks....no it really sucks and is frustrating. Hopefully we learned from this valuable experience. We were so dominant to end the season and we looked like a team to be reckoned with against the wild in round one. I honestly suspect we’ve got some injuries that has been holding us back this series. Not closing out round 2 at home against the Preds May have been our undoing. We needed rest and didn’t get any. The golden nights got theirs and they looked like the energized team. I definitely suspect Lowry and Laine were injured while wheeler I believe was banged up.

 

[ICdave]

Jets post-game audio: Blake Wheeler, Mathieu Perreault, Patrik Laine, Paul Stastny and coach Maurice.

To listen click here.

 

[objectiveposter]

Overall this was a very successful season for the Jets but this was a terrible way to end the season. I think Vegas is 10-0 when scoring first in the playoffs and the Jets were 8-1 (could be wrong) thats a combined 18-1. Knowing that, you would think this Jets team would start games with a sense of urgency....nope...it was vegas that was prepared to play the last 4 games. I said before that the only was Vegas wins was if Fleury played out of his mind...and he did that 4 straight games. Its nearly impossible to win a series when there is that much disparity in goaltending. .950+ save percentage against .900 was the difference in the series.

Laine and Ehlers need to hit the gym in the off season. They didnt play with the grit and determination you need to win in the playoffs. Laine was beyond pathetic battling for the puck. Lost just about every battle without much of a fight.

Still dont think Vegas is very good. Stellar goaltending makes an entire organization look great. If Fleury has a .920 save percentage (which is still very good) Jets are probably up 3-2 in the series not factoring horrible officiating and puck luck that went the knights way.

 

[WickedPegJets]

Completely out coached, completely out hustled, completely out hearted

Three more years of Paul “let’s enjoy the moment guys” Maurice. Sigh.

 

[SensibleGuy]

In 17 games, Nik Ehlers produced no goal. Scheifele and Wheeler shut down after Game 1. All three were chokers.

lol. Riiiiiight....

 

[raideralex99]

As disappointing Laine was, Ehlers was even more so.

He definitely needs to learn how to shoot.

Seriously he the biggest disappointment in this playoff run ... zero goals

 

[BoneDocUK]

When a team wins four straight they are the better team. And don't assume we were the only team with injuries.
Vegas might be the quickest and best passing team I have seen. The jets and every other team are going to have to study them hard in the off season.
The Jets had a great season and will get better. Meanwhile, let the beautiful summer begin my friends!

I agree with much of this -- my concern, as always, is that even if the Jets get better next year, some of the flameout from this year's Central will also get better (looking at you Dallas and Colorado) and we may be on the outside looking in until it's time to turn over this core. In a league like the modern NHL, you need to take your opportunities and run with them like mid-season Ehlers on a breakaway -- and then score on the go**amn thing, unlike midseason Ehlers. You don't throw away a final 4 spot by losing four in a row, something you haven't done all season. you do EVERY DAMN THING YOU CAN TO STAY ALIVE UNTIL THE BREAKS COME YOUR WAY!!!

I hope, with optimists, that this was a training run. But it's just as plausible that it's the closest we get for a while. That will make losing this way sting and sting and sting.

 

[Aggie204]

Sad it ended this way. It was a great season nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what injuries come out and the exit interviews.

I was at the game and my attendance winning streak has been broken. I was upset for Wheeler and Schiefele when they were kneeling on the ice at the end. I’m now hoping the 2018-2019 prediction by Hockey News is correct.

I’m happy now that summer has started for me (When the Jets are done, I stop watching any hockey). I’m also happy we now have 2 bonified rivals in the West and looking forward to a new season.

GoJetsGo

 

[Maukkis]

114 points.

9 playoff wins.

PDO'd the f*** out by an expansion team in four straight games.

Such is the gruel life of a hockey team. You exceed all expectations, and then there's that one obstacle that gets you. In the end, you have nothing to show for it. They don't call the Stanley Cup the hardest trophy to win for nothing.

Story time. In every way, this year was an incredible success. I expected a playoff spot, and got more than I could ever have hoped for. Dozens of nights were spent awake, watching this team play and thinking about shit. And boy, did I enjoy this escape from the everyday life. When the playoffs rolled around, it got even more real. Seeing the Game 7 against Nashville might just be my favourite sports moment I've ever seen. Certainly up there with the best.

I always say, you win the Cup by assembling a system that no combination of four teams can beat in a seven-game series. That system was not ours this year. Hopefully we'll see that in Jets jerseys someday.

 

[Hobble]

Vegas vs. Tampa won't get any of my eye-time.

Joke of a season for the NHL as a whole.

 

[SensibleGuy]

After game 1 it never felt like our series to win.

Yeah Vegas really took control and even though we had some statistical success we never held a lead and to me it really never felt like we put up much of a fight. It sucks to lose to an expansion team, but the Knights are not like any previous expansion team. They are definitely a top team in the league. The expansion draft needs tweaking afaic...

 

[sipowicz]

It can't be both coaching AND top players disappearing. The coaching was fine.

Sitting Roslo was good coaching, while do nothing Copp stayed in?

Enstrom and Chariot playing over Morrow, Poolman and Kulikov good coaching?

 

[WickedPegJets]

Well they goalied their way through the san jose series too. Ive never seen a team score one goal then simply ice it for it 50min and some how win. They played the exact same way against San Jose. The sharks actually kicked their ass outside that first game.

I hate teams like this, I really do, this is not good for hockey at all.

Winning hockey (especially in the playoffs) is not about entertaining the fans.

 

[Coach]

Very interested to see how Vegas performs next season. Are they really this good, is it just the perfect storm of decent players playing above their heads and luck/goaltending/good coaching? Are they here to stay or does the clock strike midnight and they look next year how people expected them to be this year?

They need to sign a bunch of players who will all want raises based on their playoffs.

 

[surixon]

Yeah Vegas really took control and even though we had some statistical success we never held a lead and to me it really never felt like we put up much of a fight. It sucks to lose to an expansion team, but the Knights are not like any previous expansion team. They are definitely a top team in the league. The expansion draft needs tweaking afaic...

They are a good team but any team is hard to beat with .950 goaltending. I don't expect that is in any way shape or form sustainable. MAF just picked this year to go off and play so far and above anything he's ever shown before. It sucks but thems the breaks.

 

[raideralex99]

Coaching was not an issue from the Jets side this series. Other than the decision to play Hendricks in those couple of games against the Preds, Maurice was fine.

Actually it was ... 4 straight losses but stuck to the plan ... "we play our game". Guess what PoMo Vegas beat your game.
Who knows maybe Hendricks helps win one game in this series by hitting and taking out the man. What happened to the hitting and taking out the man in this series? I think Vegas it more than the Jets.

 

[WickedPegJets]

Ehlers 0 goals. Little 0 goals. Perrault 0 goals. Stastny 0 goals. 10 GF in 5 games. Offense dissappeared. No show by some very expensive players.

Bryan Little has a no movement clause in his contract. Chevy very much likes to sign free agent Paul Stastny.

 

[SensibleGuy]

They are a good team but any team is hard to beat with .950 goaltending. I don't expect that is in any way shape or form sustainable. MAF just picked this year to go off and play so far and above anything he's ever shown before. It sucks but thems the breaks.

Oh absolutely. MAF is a big part of it. But, they are a relentless group of players. They don't allow any time and space. This whole series was just a dogs breakfast for us...it was not pretty. We have a skilled team and they were unable to make use of that skill ftmp...

 

[ryerockarola]

Bryan Little has a no movement clause in his contract. Chevy very much likes to sign free agent Paul Stastny.

Chevy's signing Stastny? For how long and how much? It'll be tough to fit him in unless Stastny offers up a discount, not sure he will, whe would he

 

[GNP]

. Laine and Ehlers need to hit the gym in the off season They didnt play with the grit and determination you need to win in the playoffs. Laine was beyond pathetic battling for the puck. Lost just about every battle without much of a fight.

Still dont think Vegas is very good. Stellar goaltending makes an entire organization look great. If Fleury has a .920 save percentage (which is still very good) Jets are probably up 3-2 in the series not factoring horrible officiating and puck luck that went the knights way.

_____________________________________________________

Your right about that OP --especially Laine -- he looks slow out there, with little stamina. Ehlers and Connor also need some strength and endurance training. A man will continually get stronger til 28 years old. They will get better -that's what it will take.

I don't think "anybody" beats this Vegas team in the Stanley Cup -when you have a Fleury saving at 95 % very very tough to beat. The Jets fired a lot of shots on him--and it wasn't luck. The team is also very fast, and disciplined. They go all the way !!!

 

[tbcwpg]

Sitting Roslo was good coaching, while do nothing Copp stayed in?

Enstrom and Chariot playing over Morrow, Poolman and Kulikov good coaching?

How many points for Roslo

 

[folix]

The Jets remind me of the Blackhawks in 2009. That year the hawks lost in the conference finals to Detroit. We all know what the Hawks did after that....win 3 cups. The big difference of course is they lost to a great veteran team in the Redwings whereas we lost to an expansion team playing well above their heads. It sucks....no it really sucks and is frustrating. Hopefully we learned from this valuable experience. We were so dominant to end the season and we looked like a team to be reckoned with against the wild in round one. I honestly suspect we’ve got some injuries that has been holding us back this series. Not closing out round 2 at home against the Preds May have been our undoing. We needed rest and didn’t get any. The golden nights got theirs and they looked like the energized team. I definitely suspect Lowry and Laine were injured while wheeler I believe was banged up.

2008 Hawks never had to go through an expansion draft where they couldnt protect their top two lines and first D pairing and top tender. That kind of bullshit can set you back...a long time or for good.

 

[KingBogo]

Sitting Roslo was good coaching, while do nothing Copp stayed in?

Enstrom and Chariot playing over Morrow, Poolman and Kulikov good coaching?

This may very well have been the 1st game Kulikov was healthy enough to play. Kind of surprising he actually made it back to game action.