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Exceptionally Well Crafted: Jets score on masterful set play despite 2 miscues

Bob DeChiara / Reuters

The Winnipeg Jets had little trouble finding the back of the net in their 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, and the goal that went down as the game-winner really highlighted their dominance of the Bruins' back-end.

Playing with a 2-1 lead late in the second period, Jets winger Drew Stafford controlled the puck in the corner of the Bruins' zone. The fun started when he handed the puck off to Alex Burmistrov.

Here's a look at everyone on the ice as the play began.

The Jets broke down the Bruins' positioning by flipping Dustin Byfuglien (33) and Ben Chiarot's (7) point spots and sending Byfuglien in from the point and through the middle of the ice. Bruin forward Brett Connolly (14) followed him through, but the sequence also attracted the attention of Ryan Spooner (51), and caused Jimmy Hayes (11) to lose track of his assignment.

Hayes had been responsible for covering Byfuglien at the point, but when Byfuglien and Chiarot flipped spots, Hayes lost track of who he was covering, forcing Connolly to follow Byfuglien through.

By the time the Jets reset, the Bruins were discombobulated. With no one covering Stafford (12), the Jets outnumbered the Bruins in front of the net.

When Chiarot sent the puck to Adam Lowry (17) in front of the net, both Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask and defenseman Zach Trotman (62) were forced to sell out in an effort to eliminate the scoring chance.

That only served to leave Stafford open in front once again, and he flipped the puck up and over a down-and-out Rask for the goal.

Here's a look from a different angle of just how much time and space Stafford had to operate when he received the pass.

Interestingly enough, the play succeeded despite a pair of miscues along the way.

First, the pass to Lowry was supposed to come from Burmistrov, but Chiarot had pinched too far in off the point and inadvertently blocked it. Fortunately, he was able to control the puck and get it to the front of the net himself.

Next, Lowry's pass to Stafford was well out in front of where it should have been, forcing Stafford to stop the puck with his skate and kick it up to his stick. But the play was so well crafted he had more than enough time and space to do so.

A six-goal start to the season is certainly promising for the Jets' offense, and if they have more plays like this one in their back pocket, opposing goaltenders should fear their trips out to Winnipeg.

(Images courtesy: NHL.com)

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