Winnipeg Jets: Why Pavelec's Comments Really Hit Home

Following a shootout loss to the Islanders, Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec called out his teammates in a postgame press conference. He was unhappy with the play of his team, especially in the offensive zone.

It seemed to have worked.

The Winnipeg Jets had their most dominating win yesterday against the reeling Montreal Canadiens. The Jets dominated every facet of the game while getting some unlikely scoring from the likes of Tanner Glass and Tim Stapleton.

Blake Wheeler, who has had trouble putting the puck in the net throughout most of the season, now has three goals in his last three games and is getting great help from line-mates Bryan Little and Evander Kane, who have been doing most of the scoring on the top line.

After getting a 2-0 lead in the first, it was smooth sailing as Pavelec was barely tested other than in the second, when he stopped 16 shots. The Canadiens could only muster an additional 11 shots in the first and third periods combined.

So what did Pavelec say to really juice up his team?

Well, Pavelec complained that in the loss to the Isles the team was shooting from the boards and never tried to get any traffic in front of the net. He said that they had practiced all week on team strategy but didn't execute.

Coach Claude Noel also said that the only reason they were in the game was because of Pavelec and that you can "thank him for the point."

So Pavelec can thank his teammates for the two points against the Canadiens as they seemed to listen, as 6'5" Wheeler had two goals and an assist.

So it seems calling out your teammates in postgame interviews works—for one game at least.

Happy Holidays to all. 

Get at me on twitter @the__ste (Double Underscore)