Ondrej Pavelec earns first shutout to lead Winnipeg Jets over New York Islanders 3-0-NHL Match Update
Ondrej Pavelec blocked all 34 shots taken on his net by the New York team, earning his first shutout of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season to lead the Winnipeg Jets to victory over the Islanders, 3-0, Thursday night, November 3, 2011,
at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, United States.
Pavelec’s performance during these past few matchups has certainly not gone unnoticed by the Winnipeg Jets head coach, Claude Noel.
"He's played like this now for the last couple of games", Noel said. "He's really bounced back from that Philly game. If this is the level that he continues to play at, we've got ourselves a heck of a goalie”.
Evander Kane kept his performance consistent and scored his fifth of the regular season 4:21 into the opening period. Kane and New York’s, Travis Hamonic, exchanged fists with 18 seconds remaining in the first, which forced both teams to go into the second
without a player after they were awarded with a five-minute major.
"We gave guys the opportunity to see what they can do", Islanders coach, Jack Capuano, said. "Now, the minutes don't mean anything. We need to win some games".
Winning gave three straight penalties in the following period as Jim Slater, Bryan Little and Johnny Oduya were booked for various minor’s and sent to the benches, but New York failed to capitalise on any one of them.
Having a good start to the new season, Islanders have now lost six straight, which has obviously stunted their growth in the Eastern Conference ranks.
"We need a win and we need to get back on track, but we've got to stay positive. It's early in the year, and if we keep playing that way I like our chances", Capuano added.
Johnny Oduya and Alex Burmistrov scored two straight a little over a minute apart and widened the lead to an extent which New York was unable to make a comeback.
Winnipeg Jets have another road game against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, while the New York Islanders stay at home for their last before the start of a three-game road trip against the Washington Capitals on the same day.
Tags: