Patrik Laine has been putting pucks in the back of nets with relative ease all season. On Sunday in the Jets-Oilers game, he did so once again, but this time he buried it into his own net.
Laine was upset on the bench. Captain Blake Wheeler consoled the rookie on the bench. The goal was credited to Mark Letestu and turned out to be the 3-2 game-winner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hNOJqiJb-E
Laine sitting in his stall waiting after the game, answered all questions. Even Letestu said he felt bad for him but says they'll take it.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) December 12, 2016
Following the match, Wheeler told NHL.com that Laine shouldn’t sweat the mistake and continue to produce at his elite rate.
“He’s 18 years old, he feels terrible,” Blake Wheeler said, according to NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest. “These things happen. I’ve done it many times. It’s just a bad bounce. He’s done a (heck) of a job for us this year. You just hate to see a guy feel that way after a game.”
Laine, the second overall pick in 2016, is amongst the NHL goal leaders with 17 in just 32 games. He’s been exceptional in Winnipeg. Mistakes, like shooting the puck into your own net, are rare, but they do happen. There’s no need for him to hang his head about the play. Laine should take Wheeler’s comments to heart and realize it was a bad bounce and freak play.
It might have cost the Jets a victory, but Laine has kept the team in many games this season. He’s got to have a short-term memory and keep up his torrid pace.
[theScore]
