Jets are showing progress on power play

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This article was published 21/10/2015 (3638 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Early returns on the Winnipeg Jets’ power play are positive in light of last season’s erratic results.

Winnipeg has six power-play goals in six games so far this NHL season, a 26.1 per cent conversion rate. That’s fifth in the NHL so far, an excellent pace and well above the average of 18.3 per cent.

A year ago, the Jets finished 17th on the power play at 17.8 per cent, below the average of 18.7 per cent. The power play then was hot and cold regularly, including a drought of six games to start the season and a seven-game stretch with nothing in November.

“I think we’re just focused on moving the puck quick,” Jets defenceman Tyler Myers said Wednesday, his team off to a 4-2-0 start. “We’re not trying to slow things down. When that happens, we get in a bit of trouble.

“But it’s been both units, not just one unit, which is big for a power play. Both have really bought into moving the puck quick and not letting (opponents) set up.”

The team’s addition of some youth and skill this fall may be helping the power play become a more proactive group, Myers agreed.

“Yeah. A few of our young guys are on the power-play units and they’ve proved since the start of camp that they have a lot to bring to the team,” he said. “One of those things is speed and that’s a really big factor on the power play.”

Jets right-winger Blake Wheeler shares the longest active points streak in the NHL with Dallas’s Jamie Benn.

Wheeler’s six-game streak includes three goals and five assists.

He’s getting some notice for his scoring but Jets coach Paul Maurice said there’s way more to Wheeler’s game than that.

“There’s something that Blake Wheeler can do for our team other than score,” the coach said. “It’s a huge piece of his game and he’s respected for that part of it.”

After the Tampa Bay Lightning visit Friday, it’s back to another Central Division matchup Sunday for the Winnipeg Jets when the Minnesota Wild visit the MTS Centre.

The Central Division story has had legs for several days now after last Sunday’s intense game between the Jets and St. Louis Blues, won 4-2 by St. Louis.

The Central has piled up 27 wins already through Wednesday, more than any other NHL division.

“It just tells you nothing’s changed from last year, that it’s going to be a high point total because the teams are probably going to run pretty well until mid-February, then we play all divisional games,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said Wednesday. “I don’t think anybody’s waiting for anybody to fall off in the Central Division.

“It’s going to be great hockey. In some ways there’s a bit of a payoff for being in the Central Division. You play so many big, physical games, you get into a rhythm of that kind of game being played. It raises your level. It forces you to play at a higher level.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca