Clutch Factor. - vinaa23's Blog

vinaa23's Blog

Clutch Factor.

Posted on May 27, 2014 at 02:28 PM.

SAINT LOUIS, MAR. 17 - It seemed that we were heading to another overtime involving the Winnipeg Jets (they lead the league in OT losses with 15) when the home team Blues tied the game with little more than 3 minutes to play.

But then James Van Riemsdyk shone again in a clutch situation.

The Jets grabbed the lead early with a lot of luck. Pietrangelo was holding the puck near his own net when Vermette checked him. Elliott never saw it coming, and the loose puck found its own way to the back of the net.

"You know, a championship team have to play well despite the adversities, but after lots of unlucky bounces in the last games, it was nice to see Lady Luck on our side again tonight." Said Vermette after the game.

After a stalemate in the second, the Jets were being severely outplayed by the Blues in the last period. Reimer was making some miracles between the pipes to deny Oshie as the surging Saint Louis' team, winner of 8 of their last 10 games, fought hard to tie the game. When Porter caught the defense sleeping and knocked a rebound in, the Blues launched themselves to the attack hoping that they could win the extra point.

The fact that the Jets were playing so hard that they had 3 penalties called against them in the third period only wasn't doing anything to help the visitors.

However, when the Blues had a penalty of their own heading into the last minute of the game to make it 4-on-4, James Van Riemsdyk had the perfect chance to do what he has been doing all season: rise in clutch situations.

After a scramble for the puck in the offensive zone, Rozsival found Riemsdyk alone with little less then 10 seconds to play. The American forward had a clear shot, a fairly weak one to be honest, and made it count, sending the puck through Elliott's five-hole.

"I'm glad I could help the team." - said Van Riemsdyk in interview - "I feel really comfortable in these situations, you know. I just feel like I'm doing what I have to do. And I'm more than ready to do it when the playoffs come."

No one can say the man doesn't have ice in his veins.

Mar 17, 2014	1	2	3	F
WPG (35-20-15)	1	0	1	2
STL (37-25-6)	0	0	1	1

Three Stars
	James Reimer (WPG) 1.00 GAA, .974 SV%, 39 SA
	Brian Elliott (STL) 2.05 GAA, .939 SV%, 33 SA
	James Van Riemsdyk (WPG) 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 1 Hits, 5 S, +/- 2

Team Stats Comparison
	WPG	STL
Shots on Goal	33	39
Hits	30	21
Faceoffs Won-Lost	20/11	11/20
Penalty Minutes	6:00	2:00
Power Plays Converted	0	0
Power Play Opportunities	0	3
Time on Attack	6:37	5:54

Scoring Summary
FIRST PERIOD
WPG	3:05 A. Vermette (14), (Unassisted)
THIRD PERIOD
STL	16:42 C. Porter (2), (R. Reaves, R. Polak)
WPG	19:49 J. Van Riemsdyk (17), (M. Rozsival, J. Gardiner)