Piece Corps: Every Jet is chipping in at least a bit, and the results are obvious

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/03/2015 (3832 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pro hockey coaches all have certain expressions and terms they lean on often during their daily sessions with the media. Paul Maurice is no different from former Winnipeg Jets bench boss Claude Noel.

With Noel — between breaking into renditions of In A Gadda Da Vida, bemoaning “free pizzas” (turnovers) or spinning yarns about his playing days in the minors — he spoke a lot of playing a “heavy game” that has become the trademark of the Central Division and the Western Conference.

Maurice’s common refrains are more often than not straight from the coach’s manual. He can describe in detail a breakout or the subtle changes needed on a penalty kill. And when he does go big-picture in his thinking, he has repeatedly made reference to how many of his charges have had a “piece” in all of the team’s 36 wins this season.

It’s not exactly the kind of commentary that makes headlines across the National Hockey League, but it does perfectly represent an outfit lacking the superstar power that dots rosters in Pittsburgh, Chicago, New York — both the Rangers and the Islanders — any of the California clubs, or in Montreal, Boston, Detroit or Tampa.

That said, there has been a transformation under Maurice. The Jets are no longer a one-line hockey club that would make periodic runs whenever Dustin Byfuglien was engaged emotionally and physically, when Evander Kane went on a goal streak or Ondrej Pavelec was a highlight-of-the-night candidate for all the right reasons.

That depth, a combination of the young draft picks emerging and vets energized by a playoff race, is a mammoth factor in explaining how the Jets have been able to bang out a modest three-game win streak over the last week minus their MVP in Byfuglien, their No. 1 centre in Bryan Little as well as power-play catalyst Mathieu Perreault and emerging defenceman Ben Chiarot.

Many Jets, to parrot Maurice, have had a piece in their most recent push to the playoffs.

And that’s worth examining further…

THE YOUNG CENTRES

Word Little would be out came just prior to the Jets’ last road trip and was like a second swift kick to the nether regions, surprising everyone on a day the club also learned it would be without Byfuglien. But the Jets are 4-2 since Little was injured as Adam Lowry has slid into his spot between Andrew Ladd and Michael Frolik, while Mark Scheifele has cranked up his game working between Blake Wheeler and Drew Stafford.

Lowry’s work has been steady during his first season in the NHL and his hockey IQ is obvious. But Scheifele has really stepped up with the increased responsibility, including on the power play. FYI: Scheifele turned 22 last weekend; Lowry celebrates his 22nd at the end of the month. Remember those worries about how thin the Jets were down the middle?

THE BUFFALO BOYS

Many around the NHL figured the change in address might do wonders for Tyler Myers’ career. After all, he’s a former Calder Trophy winner who just seemed to be crushed in Buffalo under the weight of expectations that came from a new contract and, subsequently, all the losing. Frankly, they were right. Myers played 29 minutes and two seconds in the win over St. Louis Thursday and is showing more offensive flair than most expected.

Stafford, meanwhile, has really re-energized his career in his 15 games as a Jet, scoring six goals and adding five assists while playing both right and left wing. And he’s done it in dramatic fashion: Four of his goals have come in third-periods, including three which tied the game.

The true impact of this trade won’t be measured for years, but both Myers and Stafford have played critical roles in keeping the Jets in the playoff discussion. The impact future pieces Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia and the late first-round pick the Jets picked up in the swap makes this deal a possible grand slam today and down the road.

THE CAPTAIN

In late February after the St. Louis Blues had exited the MTS Centre with a shootout victory, coach Ken Hitchcock told reporters how Andrew Ladd “was driving the bus for the Jets.” Ladd had an assist and 10 hits that game as he pasted anyone in enemy colours all night long. And he hasn’t stopped since. Asked recently about the Jets’ draft-and-develop model, Ladd retorted he was 29 and wanted to win now. It shows as he’s brought a level of cranky to his game that is setting a distinct tone.

BLAKE WHEELER’S 200-FOOT GAME

The big Minnesotan has three game-winning goals in the last month and is tied for the team lead with Michael Frolik with three short-handed markers. But it is some of the little things he’s done, especially of late, that exemplify how hungry he is to make his first appearance in the playoffs since playing with the Boston Bruins five years ago. He’s blocking shots, finishing checks and has become a conscientious defender. Combine that with his world-class speed and it’s an impressive package.

TROUBA AND THE DEFENSIVE FOOT SOLDIERS

It was no surprise when Byfuglien was felled by injury assistant coach Charlie Huddy opted to funnel many of the extra minutes to Jacob Trouba. Just 21, Trouba has looked NHL-ready from the first moment he stepped onto the ice with the Jets. He’s still prone to trying to do too much occasionally, but his confidence never wavers.

What’s often been overlooked, especially of late, is the understated game of Jay Harrison, the ability of Adam Pardy to fill in on the wing and provide solid minutes on the penalty kill, how well Toby Enstrom has meshed with Myers and the ferocity of Mark Stuart.

THE LAST LINE OF DEFENCE

There’s still work to be done — one bad week and this whole piece gets flipped upside down — but one of the most incredible stories in the Jets’ latest run has been the work of Ondrej Pavelec. To sum up his season, he lost his starting gig to Michael Hutchinson and had Jets Nation positively apoplectic when he whiffed on the Barret Jackman long bomb in St. Louis 11 days ago. And then he backstops three straight wins while stopping 104 of the last 109 shots he’s faced while his name is once again chanted, not cursed, from all four corners of MTS Centre.

If this story ends the way the Jets wish — with a coveted playoff spot — then the role Pavelec plays might mean he has the most-compelling part in all of it.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait