Jets benefit as Buff does more with less

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This article was published 25/02/2018 (2755 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DALLAS – The high-risk, high-reward version of Dustin Byfuglien was good for highlight reels, but the new, understated Buff is making a bigger contribution to Winnipeg’s bid for a post-season berth.

It can be argued Byfuglien has been the Jets’ best player since top pairing defenceman Jacob Trouba went down with a lower-body injury on Jan. 25.

In 12 games since, Byfuglien’s ice time has cracked the 25-minute barrier eight times while he’s scored twice and added 13 assists. In 38 games prior, he reached that 25-minute threshold only eight times, which was a far cry from the 2017-18 season when he averaged 27:26 to lead the entire NHL. His current average of 23:45 is 26th in the league.

It’s clear the 32-year-old blue-liner is doing more with less, which is by design.

“He has been all year,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice Saturday night. “He has cut back a lot of his forays into the offensive zone. Then again, we’re not trailing games as much and he wants to win so all the time prior, if you get behind it, he gets a little bit more active. He’s done a really, really good job of picking his spots now but his all-round play, I mean, he moves it simply, he moves it quick (and) jumps in when he can.

“He’s got patience in his game and he’s still such a physical force when he needs to be down low. His all-round game is outstanding.”

Saturday’s three-assist outing in a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars was a prime example.

“I thought he was outstanding tonight,” said Jets right-winger Blake Wheeler. “There were times he was the best player on the ice. He can dictate so much with his size and his presence that if he throws his weight around a little bit, he seems to find a little bit more ice, has a great understanding of the game, reads the game incredibly well. When he’s quick and he’s on his toes, he creates a lot of odd-man rushes for us just by stepping up on the play and breaking up plays.”

Byfuglien’s instinctive play helped to get the Jets going after spotting the Stars an early 1-0 lead. He carried the puck over the Dallas blue-line before making a clever drop pass to Nikolaj Ehlers, who zipped into the centre of the ice before firing his 24th goal of the season.

“I was calling for it in the neutral zone but he kept going and then dropped it, which was perfect,” said Ehlers. ”He went to the net, I think, and created space for me to just walk down the middle.”

With four goals putting him on pace for a career low in that department, Byfuglien’s 34 points in 50 games put him on a pace similar to the 56, 45, 53 and 52 points he produced in each of the last four seasons, respectively.

Road Warriors

Saturday’s win over the Stars and a 4-0 win in St. Louis Friday have given the Jets some breathing room. Tied atop the Central Division with the Nashville Predators at 83 points entering Sunday’s action, the Jets had an eight-point cushion on third-place Minnesota, nine points on fourth-place Dallas and 11 on the fifth-place Blues.

“It was really important to get back in the Central – we had dropped some games there,” said Maurice. “So we got back strong on the road, with both teams really pressing now with the standings the way they are. So you know you’re getting their A-game from them. Both game we had to kinda hold early.”

With 20 games remaining in the regular season, Maurice hasn’t conceded top spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg hosts Nashville Tuesday night.

“Well, I think Vegas is still the first-place team in the league and they’ve got 86 (points), right?” said Maurice. “They’re not making the playoffs with 86 points, so it’s still on.”

Watching, waiting

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Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson has experienced a season of highs and low, beginning with a training camp demotion to the Manitoba Moose, trade rumours, an AHL all-star nod and, most recently, a concussion that sidelined him for six games.

On Saturday, making his first appearance since a Jan. 30 victory, Hutchinson made 33 stops in a 5-3 victory.

How does he feeling about the possibility of being moved prior to Monday’s NHL trading deadline?

“You’re on edge, not knowing really where you stand or what’s going to happen,” said Hutchinson. “So, it’s been the same story all season for me personally, so the next little bit is going to be the exact same.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14