Time to show what they’re made of

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This article was published 04/12/2024 (306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BUFFALO — So, where do the Winnipeg Jets go from here?

Now that this season-long losing streak has reached four games, it’s threatening to slide into tailspin territory when you zoom out and look at the last 10 games.

With the Jets set to embark on a stretch of three games in four days against teams currently below the playoff line, beginning with Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, it’s up to the group to show what they’re made of.

Centre Mark Scheifele suggested it was as simple as going back to the blueprint that’s made them successful through 26 games of the campaign, which led to a 15-1 record out of the gate before this 3-7 stretch that has them at 18-8 overall.

The reasons for the wobble are fairly easy to identify and head coach Scott Arniel laid several out during his post-game address Tuesday after the 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

“We need to be better as a group. That’s the biggest thing,” said Arniel. “We won all those games as a team and this isn’t going to change here. Everybody’s had a little bit of fault (with) these losses and now it’s a case of us sticking together and going on to the next game on the road here and finding a way to win that hockey game.”

On Tuesday, the tide turned in the second period when the Blues took advantage of blown assignments in coverage to score twice at four-on-four during a 39-second span.

When it comes to the recent scoring woes, which include the Jets scoring only six goals during the four-game losing streak and being held to one goal in four of the past six games, Arniel also had a simple explanation.

Too often, the Jets were looking for the perfect play and being too cute when a more direct option was available.

“We were trying to make highlight-reel plays,” said Arniel. “We weren’t playing north-south and forcing them to defend like we did in the first.”

The Jets’ lone goal on Tuesday was a prime example of the team going back to their strengths, even if it came at six-on-five with the goalie pulled in favour of an extra attacker.

Josh Morrissey fired a D-to-D pass across at the blue line, Neal Pionk found a lane and got a good low shot to the net and the rebound kicked out to Scheifele, who fired the puck home to snap a six-game goal-scoring drought that extended back to the ninth hat trick of his NHL career.

Finding the back of the net was an important development for Scheifele, who was back to taking draws on a more frequent basis as he continues to deal with an undisclosed upper-body ailment.

Scheifele is sticking to his guns and not unveiling any hints about what appears to be an injury located somewhere between the elbow and shoulder.

“We were trying to make highlight-reel plays. We weren’t playing north-south and forcing them to defend like we did in the first.”–Coach Scott Arniel

Asked if the fact he took 15 draws after barely taking any during the past several games was a sign of progress related to what he’s been dealing with — Scheifele kept it to a one-word answer.

“Yes,” he said.

There’s little doubt the Jets could use some additional offensive production from his usual linemates Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi. This lull isn’t going to be solved by one player or one line.

One of the many reasons the Jets got off to a dynamic start is related to their depth and even with Nikolaj Ehlers sidelined for at least one more week with a lower-body issue, the recall of Brad Lambert provides an opportunity that could extend beyond spot duty.

Lambert was steady in just over 15 minutes of work.

You could tell Lambert was focusing on not giving up much defensively and that’s essential to earning the trust of the coaching staff. The next step is to incorporate his offensive gifts, which include his explosiveness and ability to shoot the puck.

Lambert can’t worry about anything except the next game and practice, but he has a chance to show he might be able to compete for the second-line centre job sooner than later.

Given his skating ability, that’s something that could help the Jets get themselves back up to speed after going through a stretch when the opposition has clogged things up and often taken away one of the team’s biggest strengths.

“You saw his speed a few times. When he gets pucks, he makes plays,” said Arniel. “For him, I know he was nervous, but I thought he showed well. There’s still some teaching things. You know, it’s a different league up here. It’s more about without the puck but, all in all, I was happy with his game.”

What made the Jets’ successful through the bulk of the first quarter was their ability to get contributions throughout the roster, including goals from all four lines and offence from each of the defence pairings.

“No, I don’t think so. That’s disrespecting the league and the other teams. This is a hard league.”–Scott Arniel

Certainly there is room for individuals to elevate their respective games, but the quickest way for the Jets to snap out of it is to do so as a collective.

The Jets, having slipped to second spot in the Central Division behind the Minnesota Wild, will be facing an ornery Sabres team that blew a four-goal lead in their last game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Arniel was quick to dismiss a theory that the 15-1 start made it difficult for the Jets to stay motivated to play the aggressive style that can be tough to sustain over the course of the 82-game grind.

“No, I don’t think so. That’s disrespecting the league and the other teams. This is a hard league,” said Arniel.

“I think it’s just us and getting back to our mindset of being an attack team when we do get the puck. That’ll go a long way towards us spending more zone time, having more zone time and creating more opportunities.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld