The Winnipeg Jets have started another winning streak, albeit just two games since the Olympic break, by defeating division rivals, the Nashville Predators 3-1 this afternoon at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Ondrej Pavelec earned the Jets players player-of-the-game award by donning the "pilots helmet" for the second consecutive game as he made 39 saves in a game where the Jets were outplayed and thoroughly out shot 40-20. If you include shots blocked by the Jets and shots that missed the net entirely, the Predators threw over 70 pucks Pavelec's way. He deserved all three stars of this game actually. The defense in front of him has improved, thus so do his numbers. Those improved numbers should cool off the fair-weather fans, as any fan with any knowledge as much as the average fan purports to do...if you get me.
He may not have won over his detractors who want him traded, bought out or *ahem* traded "to the minors," however that works.
But as it stands, he remains the Jets number one netminder and his confidence level has increased tremendously since Paul Maurice has taken over head coaching duties. Having a vastly improved defensive core doesn't hurt either. Maurice commented on people's perception of Pavelec's play overall.
With their 30th win of the season, the Jets are now tied with the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks with 66 points and may now lay claim (at least temporarily) to the second wild card spot and the eighth seed in the Western conference.
