Rising from the depth

ELMONT, N.Y. – The thing about small-sample narratives is that they can evaporate quickly.

So while it was apparent for all to see in the first two games of the Winnipeg Jets season that they were going to need some more secondary scoring, assuming that was going to last was probably a stretch.

One of the calling cards for the Jets last season was their depth up front and that quality was on full display on Monday afternoon in what was a 5-2 victory over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.

It also featured the first points of the season for Winnipegger Jonathan Toews, Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Pearson, Gustav Nyquist, Cole Koepke and Logan Stanley, to go along with another big game from Morgan Barron (who had a goal and an assist and is up to four points in three games)..

“Yeah, that’s what we need throughout the year,” said Pearson. “I think that’s what makes a good team, when it gets going throughout the lineup. It just showed our depth.”

That depth has been tested with some early injuries but in a game the Jets were down to 11 forwards for the final two periods after Koepke left with a lower-body injury, the team stepped up and got the job done.

“We need that,” said Toews, who recorded his first point since Apr. 14 of 2023 when he appeared in his final game with the Chicago Blackhawks. “We’ve got a hell of a first line, those guys find ways every single night and carry the offence for this team. To win the majority of our games, especially against good teams, we need to help those guys out.”

Mission accomplished on that front and the top line showed its appreciation by supplying an empty-net goal as an insurance marker with 2:25 left to go in regulation time, with Kyle Connor stripping the puck from Jonathan Drouin and finding Mark Scheifele for his third goal of the campaign.

The Jets are back in action on Thursday when they close out the two-game road swing in Philadelphia against the Flyers.

Let’s take a closer look at what transpired in this one:

THE START

Jets backup Eric Comrie was a bit of a surprise starter in this one, given the two-day break before the next game.

But in order to help reduce Connor Hellebuyck’s workload below 60 starts, Comrie needs to get some early-season action and he wasn’t given the opportunity to ease into this one — as he faced three quality scoring chances in the opening 30 seconds.

One of those chances was a one-timer from Mathew Barzal and Comrie stood tall, something he would do on numerous occasions as the Jets improved to 2-1-0.

“Outstanding,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “He had to be really good, especially in the first 10 minutes of that game. They had some point blank one where he came up large and kept us in that game and kept the building a little quieter.

“Good goaltending can bail you out of some situations, and he did that.”

The Jets would like to get Comrie closer to 25 starts this season and if he’s as sharp as he was on Monday, that will be easier to accomplish.

“He was unbelievable,” said Pearson. “They came out really strong, and he was the one that kind of kept us in it. And, fortunately we were able to respond for him.”

 

THE KEY PLAY

Jets defenceman Logan Stanley snuck a shot through the pads of Ilya Sorokin 2:19 into the second period, restoring the two-goal cushion just 14 seconds after Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for the Islanders.

 

THE THREE STARS

1. Eric Comrie, Jets – Finished with 33 saves, including several of the highlight-reel variety.
2. Morgan Barron, Jets – Scored once and added a helper in 15:06 of ice time.
3. Tanner Pearson, Jets – Scored his first goal of the season, added an assist.

 

THE YOUNGSTER

Islanders defenceman and 2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer made an impression in this one, recording four shots on goal while generating 12 shot attempts in 26:35 of ice time, which led all players.

Schaefer’s explosiveness was one thing that stood out throughout the contest.

“I just made the comment to management that I’m glad he’s in the East. The kid is dynamic,” said Arniel.

“Boy, can he skate. I’ve seen some young guys step into this league. There’s a guy in Colorado (Cale Makar) that kind of had that same kind of poise and ability to move. He is dynamic. I saw some video and watched him on TV last year. But to see him live, man, man oh man, he can jump. He can skate and he has some tools.”

Schaefer also caught the attention of Toews.

“He had the puck a lot. He’s influencing the game,” said Toews. “Pretty crazy to see a kid at his age, even not having played much last year, to go No. 1 and step in and look as comfortable as he is now.

“Obviously he has tremendous skill and speed as well. He had some flashes out there where you think you’ve got position on him and he’s jumping around you. Incredibly patient and poised with the puck. No doubt he’s a special player.”

 

EXTRA, EXTRA

For the second time in as many games, the Jets had a player leave the game after blocking a shot. On Saturday, it was defenceman Haydn Fleury taking one off the kneecap and on Monday, it was Koepke that sustained a lower-body injury. Koepke, who had five shifts for 2:50 of ice time, blocked the shot during an Islanders power play late in the first period and didn’t return.

“He got hit with that slapper. Obviously, he was just really, really sore,” said Arniel. “We’ll just go day by day here, trying to see how it’s moving and (see if) it gets a little bit looser as he goes forward.”

The Jets got a power-play marker from the second unit as Niederreiter banked a shot off the back of Sorokin and finished one-for-three, while the penalty kill was a perfect five-for-five to improve to 14-of-15 on the season (93.3 per cent).

Scheifele is up to three goals and six points in three games this season, while Connor has three goals and five points.

The Jets scratches were defencemen Kale Clague and Fleury and forward Parker Ford (who is expected to draw into the lineup on Thursday if Koepke is unable to play.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld