Jets still a work in progress

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This article was published 10/04/2024 (544 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DALLAS — A template game it was not.

Sure, there were elements of the qualities that have allowed the Winnipeg Jets to flirt with 50 wins for just the second time in franchise history.

That is no small feat and it is not to be discounted going into Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars (7 p.m. CT), who sit atop the Central Division standings.

However, a 4-3 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night in Music City featured a few things that were out of tune — and definitely out of character.

A team doesn’t need to apologize when a goalie stands tall and steals a point or two in a game against a hungry division rival. That’s part of the job description and can be filed under the category of other duties as assigned, as Connor Hellebuyck is most definitely aware of his lengthy tenure as the backbone of this hockey team.

Without Hellebuyck making 45 saves and reinforcing his status as the front-runner to win his second Vezina Trophy, the Jets don’t even get this game to overtime, let alone win it.

Outplaying the goalie in the crease at the other end of the rink is often an essential quality when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

Since the Jets feature one of — if not THE best — partnership in the NHL with Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit, it’s one of the reasons the Jets should feel good about their chances in the post-season.

For all of the talk about Mark Scheifele going nine games without a goal after his eighth career hat-trick March 19 against the New York Rangers and needing to look for his shot more, the Jets’ top centre had his fingerprints all over this game.

His quick puck movement to Gabriel Vilardi for the winger’s highlight-reel, between-the-legs goal on the power play got the ball rolling and evened the score in the first period.

A turnover created by Tyler Toffoli at the offensive blue line allowed Scheifele to walk in alone and bury a beautiful backhand, making it 2-1 for Winnipeg.

Then Scheifele capped the night by making a perfect pass to Kyle Connor on a two-on-one rush during overtime to help the Jets improve to 48-24-6 and remain two points back of the Colorado Avalanche in the race for second in the Central.

It’s true Scheifele was on the ice as the Predators evened the score in the third period on a goal by Ryan O’Reilly. That’s also going to happen when you’re on the ice against high-end players.

This was an important step forward for Scheifele, a play driver who had recorded only one shot on goal during the previous three games. Scheifele has never been a high-volume shooter and favours quality over quantity.

He’s going to need to be on top of his game during the coming weeks and maybe months, especially with a series on the horizon with Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche.

Figuring out who is riding shotgun with Scheifele and Vilardi remains a storyline.

Nikolaj Ehlers had one of his toughest outings of the season. He saw his ice time reduced to a season-low 9:37, and he didn’t have a shift during the final 10 minutes or so of the third period.

His turnovers were a byproduct of trying to do too much and, while you don’t want to stifle the creativity of the skilled Danish forward, one of those miscues led directly to the opening goal of the contest by Tommy Novak.

Again, coughing up the puck happens to almost all players and this isn’t to suggest Ehlers was the only guilty party on this front.

As the Jets have been more prone to poor puck management, there’s been a rotating cast of characters that need to make better decisions at both blue lines and in the neutral zone.

These are correctable errors, provided the Jets are committed to “playing the right way.” That can’t just be a slogan on a motivational T-shirt but must become part of the mentality the Jets bring to the rink on a daily basis.

“You watch playoff hockey and a lot of times, it can be boring. It’s not trying to lull them to sleep, but just making consistent plays and managing the puck at our line and our blue line,’ said Jets right-winger Mason Appleton. “Not giving them free offence. We’re a sound defensive team when we play that way.”

Back to Ehlers. Just like the Jets need Scheifele and Kyle Connor to operate at a high level, they also need Ehlers to be rolling at peak efficiency. He’s a game-breaker.

Despite not being on the top power-play unit, Ehlers is also an important driver. If that means playing him with Sean Monahan, so be it.

This is not to ignore the history that shows Scheifele and Connor can give up more offence than they actually produce. There is an argument to be made that having a healthy version of Vilardi on that line could provide the missing link to success.

A recent stretch suggests otherwise, as they were outscored by a wide margin as a trio, but Vilardi was coming back from a 15-game absence and trying to re-establish his footing.

Given the timing of the injuries to Connor and Vilardi, they’ve been playing catch up when it comes to chemistry and given their skill sets, there is potential for them to do damage together.

Besides, Scheifele and Ehlers just don’t seem to be on the same wavelength right now. Cohesion is lacking, and there are times when one puck doesn’t seem to be enough for both of them.

Perhaps keeping them together and seeing if they can find some of that December magic is worth attempting.

Maybe playing Ehlers and Connor with Monahan might yield better results, which would leave Scheifele with Vilardi and one of Toffoli or Cole Perfetti.

While it’s always good to have options, not having a better grasp of what the top teams’ lines will look like in Game 1 is problematic.

The expectation for a top line should not be to break even.

On the flip side, that the Jets were able to reset and find a way to win Tuesday after coughing up a two-goal lead is an important club to have in the bag.

Even if it’s one a team doesn’t want to rely on all that much either.

“We’re going to play in some tough buildings here hopefully going on a long playoff run, so you’ve got to be able to manage your emotions, manage the game,” said Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo. “There’s going to be ebbs and flows, so when things happen like that, just try to get back to the basics and get back to our game.”

The Jets will attempt to avoid being swept in the season series by the Stars on Thursday and getting back to basics will be essential against a team that’s playing extremely well and has made them look ordinary on several occasions already.

The Stars haven’t allowed the Jets to get to the blue paint very often during the previous three meetings, they’ve poked holes in the defensive structure and they’ve won the special teams battle handily.

This is an opportunity for the Jets to try and show that they can provide an answer against a potential playoff opponent as they continue to jockey for position in the Central Division standings.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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