Scheifele line breaks out with stellar performance

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This article was published 03/12/2015 (3629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THERE was plenty for the Winnipeg Jets to be happy about following a 6-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the MTS Centre Wednesday night.

First, a much-needed victory to kick off December helped heal the wounds of a dismal November where they earned just nine of a possible 28 points.

There was another solid performance from rookie goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who is a perfect 2-0 in his first two NHL starts. The Jets also won the special-teams battle, killing off all three Toronto power plays while adding a power-play goal of their own — their third goal on the man advantage in the last four games.

Most importantly, perhaps, was the finishing touch the Jets displayed.

Entering the game, Winnipeg was averaging just 2.7 goals for per game compared to 3.2 against. Wednesday’s six goals was the club’s biggest output since a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins in the season opener Oct. 8.

Furthermore, the offensive outburst was spurred by the No. 2 line of Mathieu Perreault, Mark Scheifele and Drew Stafford.

The trio had gone dormant since the first game they were assembled — a 4-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks Nov. 18 in which they combined for all four goals and nine points.

On Wednesday, Stafford scored twice, including the game-winning goal, Scheifele chipped in with a goal and two assists while Perreault added a pair of assists.

In a season where Jets head coach Paul Maurice hasn’t hesitated to shake up his forward lines, his patience appears to have paid off. He’s liked what he’s seen from the line, even if they haven’t filled the scoresheet on a regular basis.

“I don’t have the expectation they’re going to get two (goals) every night,” said Maurice, who added he likes the balance on his top three lines with Alex Burmistrov and Nikolaj Ehlers together on the third line.

“They’ve been very, very good with the exception of the game in Washington (5-3 loss). You’re not doing it on goals and assists (but) more on chances they generate and what they give up doing it.”

Stafford admitted Maurice’s willingness to keep the line comes as a vote of confidence. He added success on offence starts in the defensive zone.

“It’s a matter of just staying on the puck, being solid defensively,” he said. “We’re cleaning up defensively, we’re being a little more quick on the puck, making sure that we’re getting under guys because the more solid we are defensively the more offence we’ll be able to generate.”

Generating offence will be a must Saturday when the Jets welcome the high-flying Washington Capitals to town, the same team Maurice admitted gave his second line fits just days ago.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca twitter: @jeffkhamilton