Clever Jets turning the other cheek

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This article was published 07/04/2015 (4182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. PAUL — They’re big, they’re fast and they take a ton of penalties. If there’s a Coles Notes scouting report on the Winnipeg Jets, that might just sum them up as well as any other description anyone who watches this team could piece together.

Watching the Jets turn the other cheek — not always, but occasionally — rather than reacting in Monday’s 2-0 win over the Minnesota Wild was a bit out of character for a squad that leads the National Hockey League with 419 penalties.

But it was a critical component.

That composure was showcased early, as Mark Stuart did not retaliate after taking a punch to the mug early from feisty Wild winger Chris Stewart — a play that put the Jets on the power play and, ultimately, up 1-0 when Blake Wheeler’s shot was deflected home past Devan Dubnyk.

The Jets took just three minors — two by Stuart, another by Wheeler that saved a goal — and killed off all three.

“That was a big part,” said Jets captain Andrew Ladd. “It’s been the other way around (during) the first part of the year. We were really strong. (Stuart) took a punch for that first penalty and it ended up being the game-winner. We’re going to need more of that going forward. We know we like to play hard and physical, but at this time of year, you’ve got to stay out of the crap.”

“You don’t see Mark Stuart take too many,” added Jets coach Paul Maurice, “but we are in the situation that we’re in and you’ve got to do what you have to do to play smart. We did. We played a real smart game tonight.”

All that isn’t to say the Wild weren’t dangerous on their power plays. They registered seven shots over the three man advantages, but couldn’t beat Ondrej Pavelec.

“It starts with Pav in net making some unbelievable saves,” said winger Drew Stafford. “A couple of times we seemed to be circling the wagons in our own end. On special teams he was able to stop the play and we were able to catch our breath and get a little bit of momentum back. He made some huge saves for us and that energy and enthusiasm we’re trying to play with just carried over.

“You have to give credit to our penalty kill for keeping us in it, but our best penalty killer was our goalie. They did have some high-quality chances. He robbed (Zach) Parise one time back door and a couple other plays with (Thomas) Vanek and (Mikko) Koivu.”

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FLAIR FOR THE DRAMATIC: Stafford scored his eighth goal in 23 games as a Jet Monday, banging home a rebound of a Tyler Myers shot to put the Jets up two-zip. It was the kind of cushion goal that gave the Jets a bit of breathing room in a game that served up more offensive chances than usual for both teams in this growing rivalry.

As Jets coach Paul Maurice has said since the former Buffalo Sabre came aboard, Stafford has a knack for scoring some big goals for his new club. His secret?

“No secret,” said Stafford with a grin. “If I knew the answer it would be a lot easier out there. I don’t really have an answer for you. It’s just one of those things where you’ve always got to be ready for any kind of bounce and not get too frustrated when the bounces don’t go your way.”

LOUD AND PROUD: There were 19,010 in attendance at the Xcel Energy Center including, as per usual, a healthy contingent of Jets fans. The Wild, who head out on the road now for three straight to end the regular season, sold out all 41 home games this season and have filled the building 72 straight games, including last year’s playoff games.

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