What? Score first? Capital idea!

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This article was published 27/02/2020 (2020 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets found themselves in unfamiliar territory Thursday night after scoring the first goal of the game. Even more unusual? Finding a way to make the rare early offence stand up, shutting down the high-powered Washington Capitals 3-0 at Bell MTS Place in one of their more impressive victories of the season.

Winnipeg improves to 33-27-6, tied with Nashville for the final Western Conference wild-card playoff spot. Washington falls to 39-19-6 but remains on top of the Metropolitan Division.

“Big win and you know what? We need a lot more. We’re in playoffs now. We gotta be in that grind, we’ve got to be in that mindset,” said Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 34 shots for his fifth shutout of the season, tied for tops among NHL netminders.

The Jets came into the game having been scored on first in nine straight games, routinely limping out of the gate and allowing their opponent to dictate how it’s going to be played. But Dmitry Kulikov ensured the ugly streak wouldn’t hit double-digits as his point shot evaded Washington goalie Ilya Samsonov and hit the back of the net 6:33 into the opening period. It’s just the second goal of the year for the veteran defenceman.

“And coming off some pretty good play up to it. We were getting some chances and you felt that we were right. A good feeling, for sure. And then it continued on with the game,” Jets head coach Paul Maurice said of the quick start from his club.

The first period wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the home team. Sniper Patrik Laine blocked a Michal Kempny shot with his left foot just 23 seconds into his first shift. He glided to the bench in obvious pain and made his way down the tunnel to the dressing room. He didn’t return.

“Every guy’s gotta make a sacrifice. Obviously you never want to see anyone not return to the game. In this playoff chase you’ve got to take a hit, you’ve got to make a hit, you’ve got block a shot. Do the right things all over,” said forward Mark Scheifele.

Laine’s departure left a big hole up front, which was evident later in the period as Washington took two quick penalties and gifted the Jets a 5-on-3 power play for 1:55. Winnipeg didn’t manage a single shot in that span.

An extended absence from Laine would put a major dent in Winnipeg’s playoff hopes — especially with a litany of other key players currently on the injured list including forwards Bryan Little, Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault, along with defencemen Josh Morrissey, Sami Niku, Luca Sbisa and Carl Dahlstrom.

“They ran a couple of tests. Good news, there wasn’t anything broken,” Maurice said following the game. A further update was expected today.

With a depleted roster and little margin for error, the Jets defended like their post-season hockey lives depend on it, which they kind of do. Particularly engaged was defenceman Nathan Beaulieu, who routinely got in shooting lanes and sacrificed his body. He led the team with seven shot blocks and was a big part of a revitalized penalty kill that blanked the Capitals on three different opportunities.

“The group is more powerful than the individuals. They’re playing right and playing hard, the forwards are helping out, they’re scratching and clawing… there’s enough heart and will,” said Maurice.

There was also a noticeable commitment Thursday from the remaining 11 forwards to do their part, and then some, in the defensive zone. Scheifele, who has been AWOL at times lately in that department, was especially strong. His hard work paid off midway through the period when a ferocious forecheck and successful puck battle behind the Capitals net resulted in a great pass to Kyle Connor, who buried a shot from the slot for his team-leading 32nd of the season.

“Just pulled it out and made a pass. I work on that stuff a lot. I think just practise makes perfect,” Scheifele said of the play.

He then finished off a strong night with an empty-net goal, his 28th goal of the season, to seal the victory.

“That’s a really, really good team. They do everything well, so we had to make sure we did the right things every single shift. When you have a team like that, you can’t give them any breath of life. It was a big win for us,” said Scheifele.

Next up is a Saturday night meeting in Edmonton with Connor McDavid and the Oilers, who are among a number of teams the Jets will likely be battling with for playoff position over the final five weeks of the season.

“I think we’ve been able to play the way we want to, besides our first-period starts. We’ve battled and played playoff hockey and that’s where we want to get to. We’re not 100 per cent there yet but we’re working towards it and that shows,” said forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

 

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg