Missed opportunities were a theme for the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday at the Young Stars Classic, as they fell 4-1 to the Vancouver Canucks at the South Okanagan Event Centre.
Winnipeg, now 0-2-0 at the tournament, hit two posts and couldn’t convert on a five-on-three power play opportunity in the third – despite a number of good looks.
Only Tyler Boland could beat Canucks goaltender Ty Young.
“I was able to get one today, but I’d like to have a couple of those back,” said Boland, who was turned away by Young on a highlight-reel stop in the third period. “There are a couple I’d like to have back. Just kind of the bounces in a hockey game. You have to bear down on those chances when you get them. They don’t come often. You have to capitalize.”
Oskari Salminen, who the Jets signed to a two-year, entry-level contract in May, made his first start in North America in the contest. He made 28 saves on 32 shots.
“The nerves fade away when you make the first save and the game goes on,” Salminen said. “I really liked the game we played today. We weren’t even that bad. Just a couple mistakes.”
His head coach, Mark Morrison, agreed.
“I liked the effort. We put some pucks on the net. We had some chances,” said Morrison. “We had some chances on the power play and we didn’t put the puck on the net. I don’t have anything to complain about our game as far as the effort went. I think we had everybody’s effort too, we weren’t.” “I’m missing anybody.”
The hosts opened the scoring 11:34 into the first, as Marc Gatcomb redirected a point shot from Jett Woo to make it 1-0.
Winnipeg responded with their second power play goal of the tournament. Boland, who played 13 games with the Manitoba Moose last season, corralled a loose puck off a Wyatt Bongiovanni Shot from the bottom of the left circle. Boland quickly slid it between the post and Vancouver goaltender Ty Young with 3:29 remaining in the opening period.
“To be honest I thought Bonjo’s shot was in,” Boland said. “We were all waiting around and it just trickled out and I was able to tuck it in.”
Morrison felt that Boland’s experience at the American Hockey League level, and in other levels of the pro ranks, showed on Sunday.
“He’s been around the pro game a little bit longer after spending some time in the East Coast League last year,” Morrison said. “You can tell sometimes in front of the net there, he has strength on his stick.”
The Canucks built their lead back up, and doubled it, thanks to Danila Klimovich and Tristen Nielsen. First, Klimovich sent a perfect cross-ice, back door pass to Nielsen, who beat a diving Oskari Salminen to make it 2-1.
Just 2:14 after that, Nielsen returned the favor. His shot was kicked aside by Salminen, but Klimovich – parked just to the right side of the Winnipeg net – made no mistake from there. All of a sudden, it was 3-1 and the Jets were facing their first two-goal deficit of the Young Stars Classic.
They responded well, they just didn’t get any breaks in the rest of the middle frame.
Brad Lambert – after a two-point night in the tournament opener against Edmonton Friday – hit a post, Chaz Lucius had a rush chance that didn’t quite get to the net, and Bongiovanni misfired on a three-on-one chance after a set-up from Cole Perfetti.
Vancouver made it 4-1 near the midway mark of the third. With Dean Stewart in the box for hooking, defenseman Tyrell Bauer – playing his first game of the tournament – didn’t see the Canucks forechecker coming and had the puck taken away from him below the goal line. Before Salminen could notice, Gatcomb wrapped the puck around and tucked in his second of the game.
It was a goal that Salminen described as a “European” mistake, and the difference in size between the European ice and the North American ice played a part in that goal.
“It’s a straight wraparound. I’m used to it being huge behind the net,” Salminen said. “I didn’t use enough RVH. I was too far out with the rink too narrow. I can fix it. It’s going to be fine.”
Winnipeg had a short five-on-three power play chance in the third period, but the closest they came was a crossbar. Daniel Torgerssonwho the Jets selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, caught iron from the left circle and would have trimmed the deficit, but it wasn’t to be.
The Jets conclude their tournament schedule on Monday afternoon against the Calgary Flames at 1 pm CT. Both teams will be searching for their first win of the event.
The goal for the Jets will be to end the tournament on a high note and capitalize on their offensive chances when they come.
“If you’re getting those opportunities it means you’re in the right spots,” said Boland. “I got one tonight, hopefully I can get another one – or anyone can get another one – to help our team get the two points tomorrow.”
ICE CHIPS
After not playing in the tournament opener, Tyrel Bauer played in the game against the Canucks.
Bauer, the captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds last season, wore a non-contact jersey when Rookie Camp opened last Wednesday.
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