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The Jets lose 2-0 to Dave Rittich and the Calgary Flames as their preseason record drops to 2-2-1. Of more importance though Josh Morrissey left the game late in the second period and we are currently forming prayer circles in the hopes that it’s nothing major.

First Period

Not a whole lot of anything happening in the first 20 minutes of play as the Jets / Moose actually clogged things up and played a defensive style that would have made the 1995 New Jersey Devils nod in appreciation. Shots in the period 6-5 for Calgary and five of those Flames shots happened during a four minute double minor.

Second Period

Here’s where it got ugly for the Jets as little mistakes they made against a much more experienced Calgary side started to show themselves. The Jets get pinned in their own zone multiple times and were unable to create any clean zone exits The pressure finally caused a third penalty which is when the dam burst and two Flames goals in the span of 33 seconds happened.

The Flames out-shot the Jets 13-4 in the second period, so all things considered it could have been worse. Eric Comrie had himself a solid night stopping 18 of 20 shots faced. Comrie has had himself a very nice preseason.

Third Period

All you really need to know about the third period is that the man, the myth, the absolute legend Mikhail Berdin was in net for Winnipeg in the final period and it was a glorious exhibition of 13 saves and puck handling supremacy and no I am not over-selling any of this.

Peep the way he stick handled around Milan Lucic. Brings a tear of joy to my eye.

The only other thing you may want to know about from this period is that Josh Morrissey didn’t play in it. It was first thought it was because of a shot he took off the foot, but in the post game Maurice mentioned that it wasn’t a blocked shot at all.

Was it self preservation? Load management? Is it something more sinister? Let’s hope this isn’t a bigger story down the road. The Jets can ill afford to lose JoMo.

Anyway as for the game, nobody scored in the third. Nobody really cared. The game overall was a sloppy and poorly played, but that’s more of a concern for the Flames than the Jets who have to be ok with how an AHL lineup handled things tonight.

TL;DR Why The Jets Lost

The Calgary Flames dressed an NHL lineup and the Winnipeg Jets didn’t. That said, the Jets did their best to keep the game close, but it wasn’t overly competitive and if not for some strong goaltending this could have been worse.

JetsNation’s Top Gun

I was a fan of how the goalies played tonight which is why I grouped them together in the poll and ultimately going to give them the nod for our Top Gun(s) for the game. The Moose are shaping up to be in very shape in net at least this season.

The Boxscore

Next Up

The Jets are back home – although some of them never really left the city as doing so would be silly since they didn’t play in Calgary – and will be hosting the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night. Puck drop is 7pm MST at BMTSP.