Quick, call Harbour Patrol, Jets sinking through ice

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This article was published 24/02/2015 (3915 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A month ago, the Winnipeg Jets were breaking new ground.

Today, they seem to be breaking through the ice, in need of a rescue.

The team still occupies the first Western Conference wild-card spot but the margin for error is decreasing.

The root of it is a month ago, the Jets were the fifth-best team in the NHL in terms of defence, giving up just 2.35 goals per game through 48 games.

They go into tonight’s home game against the Dallas Stars (7 p.m., TSN3, TSN 1290) in 17th place in that category, with a goals-against average of 2.60.

The drop is indicative that the implementation of a new, aggressive and physical style under head coach Paul Maurice isn’t quite as ingrained as many hoped.

“Maybe it’s playing a little safe and being off the puck and that’s where we get into trouble, especially against talented teams that move the puck and have skill,” Jets captain Andrew Ladd said after Monday’s practice at the MTS Iceplex. “You give them time and space, or an extra second to make plays and that’s when things can go the other way.

“I think it’s more getting back to being on our toes, less thinking and more just going.”

The Jets haven’t completely bombed — 4-2-3 in the last nine — but they know they were better earlier.

“We were just talking about this in practice, that the goal is to get back on track,” right-winger Michael Frolik said. “I think just a little more communication in the defensive zone, especially when we’re breaking out the puck. I think a little more talk there. We’ve started rimming the puck around and that wasn’t our game.

“We just want to get back to controlling the puck in our zone and have a good breakout. I think the communication can be better in that area.”

Jets centre Bryan Little said he’s seen enough chance-for-chance games.

“We’re not playing that tight defensive game we were at the start of the year,” Little said. “I think we’ve got to get back to that mentality, that the less we give up, the more we focus on playing a good defensive game and shutting the other down, the better we play — kind of worrying about offence second.

“Lately we’re getting into battles where we’re trading off chances with other teams. And that’s not our game, that’s not how we got into the position we’re in.”

Maurice said Monday he’s got no worry his team’s belief in the system is shaken.

“No, it’s not a matter of belief,” Maurice said. “It’s about repetitions and the change of opponents, the different styles of game you play.

“No, we’re not that far off it. We want to play that tight gap, that hard game defensively. I think for the most part we have.”

He said the team’s weak penalty killing, which improved to four-for-four in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to Toronto, is a good start back at a more sound defensive game.

“No concern where they’re at with it,” the coach said. “We’re probably ahead of where I thought we’d be overall over a 60-game block in terms of understanding a style of game. And we’re not changing it. We’ll get better at it.”

Ladd said if faith is shaken because of recent results, the Jets will be happy to embrace their role as underdogs.

“Not too many people gave us a shot at the beginning of the year and I don’t think too many people expected us to be in this position,” Ladd said. “We’ve kind of taken on that underdog role the whole year and I think we can rally around that and look to get better.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca