Jets cast out the Devils

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This article was published 07/03/2025 (188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEWARK — This was not a case of the back-to-back blues.

The Winnipeg Jets made a couple of high-character additions before the NHL trade deadline passed and followed that up by sending a reminder to the rest of the league that they’re still a pretty good hockey team.

Even if they didn’t add a marquee name like a couple of their Central Division opponents did.

By the time the buzzer had sounded Friday night, the Jets had earned a decisive 6-1 victory over a depleted New Jersey Devils squad that was reeling after losing Jack Hughes for the season and was also without top blue-liner Dougie Hamilton.

“The way I look at how our team is made up, the way we play structurally, the way we can defend, we like our chances against any team,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “We know it’s going to be a dog fight. If you want to win the Stanley Cup, you’ve got to beat four very good teams.

“Adding those guys, being able to maintain the cohesiveness and the chemistry of the expectations, of what’s expected, not trying to introduce a bunch of new guys to new systems will allow us to keep rolling.”

Rolling is what the Jets have done for the better part of this season and that’s why they remain a legitimate contender.

After working through a three-game winless streak (0-2-1), the Jets have won consecutive games on consecutive days for the second time in seven tries this season.

During the past two games, the Jets piled up 10 goals while allowing only two.

“We didn’t like our little stretch there of losing. It wasn’t long, but we wanted to come on this road trip and kind of get back to our game,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. “That’s what our team has done all year, just be calm and rely on our structure and system in that situation and we played really well. It was a big back to back with two wins for us in tough buildings.”

The Jets, who improved to 44-16-4 for the season, close out this four-game road trip against Eastern Conference opponents on Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“There’s a lot going on this week and we had talked about focusing on what you can focus on and that’s one area where our group is really mature,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We sort of focus on the task at hand and we get on that task at hand and nothing else.

“We don’t worry about things that are outside, that are out of our control. Those are two big answers (to the three-game winless stretch).”

Let’s take a closer look at this one:

THE (RE)DEBUT

After being acquired from the Seattle Kraken for a second-round pick in 2027, Brandon Tanev jumped immediately into the Jets lineup and made his presence felt, recording a pair of hits in what was a not-so-subtle reminder of the style of play that made him effective after signing as a college free agent.

That’s part of what made this reunion so attractive for the Jets.

“His game hasn’t changed a whole lot,” said Lowry. “He brings a lot of energy. Great forechecker, great PK’er, just another element of speed to our lineup.

“He was disruptive on the forecheck, their line gets us going with a big first goal and some great jobs on the kills, some nice hits and some good blocks. That’s what we can expect from him. He’s not the biggest guy, but he brings it every night.”

Tanev was in Philadelphia with the Seattle Kraken and had a feeling he was going to be on the move.

Once he heard he was returning to the organization where things began, Tanev was thrilled, got everything in order and made his way to New Jersey, arriving just under two hours before puck drop.

“It was one of those things where you’re just waiting and it comes as it is,” said Tanev, who has nine goals and 17 points in 61 games this season. “I’m very happy. I’ve been smiling all day. It’s a group I know very well, a city I know well, and they’ve had great success this year so I’m just trying to come in and do whatever I can.”

Tanev’s style of play resonated with Arniel, who inserted him onto the fourth line with Alex Iafallo and Morgan Barron, who moved into the middle.

“I knew he had some quickness to him, but you really notice that on your side, he closes quick and he’s smart,” said Arniel. “For a guy that we overloaded before the game, (with) video on how we like to play, he grasped it pretty quick. I really liked that line, he did a good job.”

THE KEY PLAY

Nikolaj Ehlers ripped home a shot with 29.1 seconds left in the second period to extend the Jets lead to three goals.

THE THREE STARS

1) Nikolaj Ehlers, Jets, scored a goal and chipped in three points, using his speed effectively throughout.

2) Josh Morrissey, Jets, Scored his 10th of the season and added an assist and generated four shots on goal.

3) Kyle Connor, Jets, notched his 33rd goal and added an assist to hit 80 points in 64 games.

STAYING HOT

For the third consecutive game, the Jets power play buried an important goal, giving them five goals during that span after the zero-for-17 drought.

This time, it was Morrissey pouncing on a rebound chance in the slot after a shot by Ehlers.

Morrissey’s goal was his 10th, making him the ninth player on the roster to hit double digits.

“The power play has been a strength for us all year. The last couple games, we’ve gotten back to feeling it out there,” said Morrissey, who eclipsed the 50-point plateau for the third consecutive season. “We had some movement. I don’t find myself in the slot too often, but it came right out on my stick and I just had to not miss the net.”

EXTRA, EXTRA

By scoring his 13th goal late in the third period, Jets forward Cole Perfetti tied his career high in points with 38. The Jets also got goals from Alex Iafallo and Kyle Connor

Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck made his 48th start of the season and picked up his 37th win, lowering his goals-against average to 1.99 and raising his save percentage to .927.

Jets defenceman Luke Schenn, acquired for a second round pick in 2026 and a fourth-rounder in 2027, was in Las Vegas with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being traded there by the Nashville Predators earlier this week. Rather than rush to North Carolina, Schenn is expected to join the Jets on Monday and should make his debut on Tuesday against the New York Rangers.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld