On Wednesday night, the Jets secured a 5-2 win against the Calgary Flames in their second-to-last pre-season game. Nino Niederreiter led the charge with two goals, including the game-winner that broke a 2-2 tie in the third period. Other scorers included Nikolaj Ehlers, Simon Lundmark, and Kyle Connor. Connor Hellebuyck, who allowed eight goals last week, rebounded with 17 saves for the victory. The Jets finish their pre-season schedule in Calgary on Friday.
Some key takeaways from the game:
– **Brad Lambert and Elias Salomonsson**: Lambert, who was expected to make an impact, struggled to impress, playing only 12 minutes. Starting alongside Niederreiter and Nikita Chibrikov, Lambert failed to stand out and even took a penalty after being out of position. Salomonsson was solid but unspectacular, and with the Jets dealing with injuries on defense, he will likely be sent to the Manitoba Moose for more development.
– **Simon Lundmark**: Lundmark made a case for himself by scoring an insurance goal. He has stepped up due to injuries and has been a dependable player throughout camp. While it’s unlikely he’ll secure a full-time spot, he’s positioned himself as a top candidate for a call-up if needed.
– **Power play**: The Jets’ power play showed significant improvement, highlighted by a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal from Ehlers. Assistant coach Davis Payne’s work has made the unit quicker and more efficient compared to last season.
– **Gabriel Vilardi**: Although Vilardi didn’t score, he was a dominant force, creating multiple chances and contributing three assists. If he stays healthy, he could easily score 40 goals this season.
Despite the individual performances, the team as a whole showed promising signs heading into the regular season.
GET MORE CONTENT HERE
Leave a Reply