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Fair-to-middling Jets rate 'C'

Over 20 games club just so-so, should improve

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 11/21/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Winnipeg Jets' defenseman Dustin Byfuglien celebrates his goal against Philadelphia Flyers' goalie Sergei Bobrovsky with Nik Antropov, Andrew Ladd and Zach Bogosian during second period NHL action in Winnipeg on Saturday, November 19, 2011. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

Report card

HERE'S our take on what we've seen as the Jets hit the quarter pole of 2011-12:

Four good trends

1. Patching the holes in a ravaged 'D'

A storyline that isn't getting much play around the NHL, but should be mentioned again: the Jets have used 12 different defencemen in 20 games as injuries to Tobias Enstrom (nine games missed), Ron Hainsey (16 games), Randy Jones (13 games), Derek Meech (18 games) have taken a serious bite out of their corps.

What we've seen, in their absence, has been a growth in Zach Bogosian's game and a better appreciation for the grit of Mark Stuart. But most impressive are the contributions of the call-ups from St. John's -- particularly Mark Flood, who has three goals in nine games.

2. The foot soliders step up

Quick trivia question: After 20 games which player leads the Jets in scoring? If you answered Kyle Wellwood (6 goals, nine assists) we have some lovely parting gifts for you.

But who would have thought that an NHL nomad like Wellwood would be this solid after being a mid-September addition that brought a collective shrug of the shoulders?

Jim Slater has six goals; Tanner Glass has three and paired with Chris Thorburn this GST line is defensively responsible and brings a calming influence. There should be no complaints about the work of the men on the third and fourth lines.

3. The emerging young guns

They still need to find some consistency, but what we've seen from Evander Kane and Alex Burmistrov through the first quarter is this: They sport the kind of skill sets that have fans sliding to the edge of their seats every time they hop over the boards. Kane (eight goals, two game winners) appears to be taking that step from prospect to star and Burmistrov (4G, 8A) has hands that should make him a 60-point man this season.

4. The last line of defence

There have been stretches this season where Ondrej Pavelec, admittedly, really fought the puck. But the Czech netminder has made 12 straight starts and has a 7-7-3 record on the year. And if the last four games are an indicator -- he has kicked out 113 of 122 shots for a .926 save percentage -- then he could become a star workhorse puck stopper this franchise needs.

Three not-so-good trends

1. The penalty parade

The Jets have been short-handed 100 times this year, most in the NHL (Florida, by comparison, has been a man down just 53 times). They've faced a two-man disadvantage 11 times in 20 games, by our count. The penalty kill is ranked 21st (heading into Sunday's games), but this occasional lack of discipline/loss of focus is a big-time area of concern.

Said Noel after Saturday's win when asked what stands out after 20 games: "Our penalties, our discipline. I've got to find a way to coach that in some fashion. That's a real challenge. We're going to have some meetings on that."

2. The No. 1 line?

The season began with Bryan Little centering Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler, but that trio has been busted up and reunited numerous times in the first quarter. Little has it going now with four goals in his last six, but Wheeler is stuck on one and that line is kaput. Interestingly, this team was supposed to be offensively challenged -- they finished 20th overall in goals for last year -- but even with iffy contributions from this unit, such as it was, the Jets are averaging 2.85 goals per game, tied with Pittsburgh for 10th best.

3. Big Buff

His work has settled considerably in the last week, especially now that he is paired with Stuart. But much of the first chunk of this season has seen the Jets wringing their hands over the play of Dustin Byfuglien. More specifically, his decisions to pinch offensively only to get burned going the other way. But in his last four games Byfuglien has two goals, including the game-winner over the Flyers, and has six points. More of that would cause a lot less worry with the Jets' brain trust.

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photos by john woods / winnipeg free press ARCHIVES The Jets have had a lot to celebrate over the past week, knocking off three top-tier teams on home ice. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

SOME weeks ago -- back in the days just before the Winnipeg Jets' historic rebirth on Oct. 9 -- yours truly was killing time in the club's dressing room and spotted a couple of messages scrawled on a whiteboard.

The first read: 'Be Proud of Your Effort Today.'

The second: "Play Hard. Play Smart. Work Together."

I jotted the two messages down in a notebook but, thinking they were rather pedestrian, filed them away in the deep recesses of my little brain.

Then along comes Saturday afternoon when those messages bubbled to the surface again while watching the Jets dismantle the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 en route to their third consecutive win and a 8-9-3 record at the quarter mark of the 2011-12 season.

And here's why: While the Jets have served up their share of duds through the first 20 games of the year, what we have seen in the last week might just be the perfect glimpse at the template head coach Claude Noel & Co. want the troops to follow.

'Be Proud of Your Effort Today.'

'Play Hard, Play Smart. Work Together.'

This isn't, after all, a star-studded squad that can take nights off and still eke out wins because the roster is flowing with talent. It has skill, some of it emerging, but it really is a team that needs contributions from everyone who pulls on a jersey every night.

We've had 20 games to watch this team begin its transformation after relocating from Atlanta -- no small task, that -- while working under new management in a new environment.

Finally, if we were to grade this crew on the first quarter it would be in the 'C' range -- it still is one game under .500, after all -- but encouraged by their work in the last week.

Put it this way, if this team still in the 'C' range by mid-erm -- especially with 13 home games before the end of the calendar year -- then this team has spun its wheels in the second quarter of the season.

"This is a new team in a new city with new coaches... it takes awhile to gel together and get on the same page," said Bryan Little after the win over the Flyers. "It's looking like it's starting to turn around."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twiter: @WFPEdTait

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 21, 2011 C4

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