Jets climb atop Central Division with 5-2 win over Red Wings

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/12/2023 (657 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This was another one of those nights when virtually everything was clicking for the Winnipeg Jets.

The top guns were flying, the supporting cast was chipping in — with the fourth line involved in two goals — and the backup goalie was once again rock solid as the Jets cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night at Canada Life Centre.

With the win, the Jets have posted a 7-1-1 record during the past nine games as they improved to 19-9-3 on the season, jumping back into first place in the Central Division standings.

It was the 21st consecutive game the Jets have allowed three goals or fewer, a remarkable stretch of committed two-way hockey.

“That’s our game plan. We play well defensively, we know we’re good enough to get our chances offensively,” said forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who had a goal and an assist.

“We don’t have to cheat for that if we play the right way defensively. We’ve done that really well. Obviously, there are always things that we can clean up, you’re never going to play a perfect game in this league. The opponents are too good for that. We’re playing the way we want to, most of the time. You want to limit the mistakes we do make. But we’re working hard for each other and that’s important.”

The Jets close out the four-game homestand with a game against the Boston Bruins on Friday night.

Jets head coach Rick Bowness has been harping on special teams the past several days and while his team didn’t have any power-play opportunities to test out a couple of tweaks to the personnel, the penalty kill did manage to go two-for-two on the evening — punctuated by a blocked shot from Dylan Samberg during the third period.

“The guys are trying to block shots, it’s not like they’re getting out of the way,” said Bowness.” They’re making a good effort to get into the shooting lane and sometimes the other guy with the puck has a decision to make, too, and he’s getting it by him. So it’s not like they weren’t trying to get in the lanes, they were. But there’s times you need big shot blocks and we got it tonight from Dylan.”

After allowing a Patrick Kane marker that trimmed the Jets lead to 4-2, the penalty kill slammed the door on the second Red Wings chance and Mark Scheifele added an insurance marker a few minutes later — punctuated by Samberg’s shot block.

On the play, Ehlers used his soccer skills to get the puck from behind the goal line to Gabriel Vilardi, who found Scheifele alone for a backdoor tap-in.

“I didn’t kick it, I just kind of stood on it and it went behind my other leg and I saw that Gabe was open,” said Ehlers. “There were a lot of guys right around me and I didn’t feel like I could get my stick down there. I played soccer for a long time. It was fun to try it. It worked out.”

Here’s a closer look at what else transpired throughout the game:

1 The hot streak — This is not a recording, but it may as well be. Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is in the midst of one heck of a heater, chipping in a goal and two assists to give him five goals and 10 points during this four-game point streak.

Vilardi is flourishing on the top line with Scheifele and Ehlers, showcasing his skill set on a nightly basis. Vilardi is up to seven goals and 13 points in 13 games. Much was expected of Vilardi when he was acquired as the centrepiece of the blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Kings and now he’s returned to full health, he’s up to being a point-per-game player that contributes to a lot of other areas of the game away from the puck.

“Haven’t seen a whole lot of him. Before he got injured, we could see this guy’s got great hands around the net. Then you watch him every game, his confidence is growing,” said Bowness. “He’s so good around the net because he hangs onto it. He’s so big and strong, got great vision and has patience with the puck of when to pass it and when not to pass it and hang on to it. He’s been very, very impressive for us.”

Since Kyle Connor was lost to a knee injury, the Jets’ restructured top trio has delivered 12 goals and 25 points in five games.

2 The roadrunner — Axel Jonsson-Fjallby showed off his explosive speed on his first goal of the season, bursting down the right-wing boards after taking a pass from Samberg before beating James Reimer with a wrister, prompting Ehlers to praise his skating ability.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy skate that fast,” said Ehlers.

Jonsson-Fjallby wasn’t sure about Ehlers’ assessment.

“Well, he skates way faster. So I don’t know,” said Jonsson-Fjallby. “I guess he hasn’t seen himself.”

3 The save — Making his eighth start of the season, goalie Laurent Brossoit delivered another rock-solid performance, a 26-save effort that included a highlight-reel stop off the stick of Dylan Larkin. After a point shot sailed wide and took a big bounce off the end boards, Brossoit stretched out his left pad to prevent the Red Wings from scoring what looked to be a sure goal. Brossoit has been excellent in each of his past three starts and improved to 4-3-1 while lowering his goals-against average to 2.50 and raising his save percentage to .911. Brossoit figures to be back between the pipes on New Year’s Eve against the Minnesota, which will give him nine starts through 34 games — which leaves him on pace to hit the target number of 25-to-27 games this season.

4 The shiner — Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey was sporting a significant black eye after taking a puck to the left cheek in Monday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens, but he was feeling fortunate the injury wasn’t worse. That it was merely a flesh wound rather than any structural damage was clearly a win.

“Kind of got lucky there with where it hit me,” said Morrissey. “It missed the teeth and kind of missed the cheekbone and stuff. Looks worse than it is. When I roll over on that side of the pillow it maybe doesn’t feel the best. It happens.”

The swelling to the cheek was noticeable but Morrissey said the only thing at risk was his modelling career.

“Christmas card might suffer a little bit this year. A little memorable, anyway. Got a picture at the holiday skate with Santa yesterday and he looked a little scared. So I don’t know if he’s coming this year to my house. But hopefully.”

Morrissey chipped in another assist, moving him to 23 helpers and 28 points in 31 games this season.

5 The century mark — Jets forwards Cole Perfetti and David Gustafsson hit a milestone Wednesday, appearing in the 100th NHL game of their respective careers. Both celebrated by chipping in an assist. Gustafsson picking up a helper on Neal Pionk’s second goal of the season that opened the scoring in the first period. Perfetti provided another example of his elite vision as he found Vilardi for a backdoor tap-in that made it 4-1 late in the second period.

6 Extra, extra — The Jets went with a familiar lineup Wednesday, which meant the healthy scratches were forward Dominic Toninato and D-men Logan Stanley and Declan Chisholm. Connor Hellebuyck will be between the pipes Friday against the Bruins.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld