No word of a lie, Jets are good

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This article was published 07/01/2024 (639 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TEMPE, Ariz. – This just in, the Winnipeg Jets are good.

Wrapping up a three-game road trip to cap a stretch of six games in a nine-day span, the Jets did what they’ve been doing with regularity and that led to them celebrating a decisive 6-2 triumph over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night at Mullet Arena.

The Jets improved to 26-9-4 on the campaign and they’ve lost once in regulation since Dec. 1.

Once in 17 games, with two extra time defeats.

If you zoom in closer, the Jets are in the midst of a stretch of 12 games of collecting at least one point (10-0-2), on top of the current six-game winning streak.

The Jets also sit atop the NHL standings in both points (56) and points percentage (.718) through 39 games.

“That’s not an easy feat,” said Jets forward Cole Perfetti, who had one point in the contest. “You look at the teams in this league, you look at the players, it’s so hard night in and night out to win on a consistent basis. We’ve been doing that. You look at the teams we are ahead of, it’s amazing how we’re coming together and playing really good for each other. Everyone feels really good about their game. It’s a lot of fun coming to the rink every day. Everyone has a smile on their face. It’s a lot easier coming to the rink when you’re winning games.”

Before the Jets open a four-game homestand on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, let’s take a closer look at what took place inside the arena on the Arizona State University campus:

THIS IS NOT A RECORDING – Another day, another game where the Jets allowed three goals or fewer.

For those of you scoring at home, that stretch has now extended to 29 games – with just seven featuring three goals against as the majority have actually been two or fewer.

“We just emphasize a team game, we emphasize pressure from all over the ice, we emphasize if they get in the zone, getting them out of there as quick as we can,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness, asked to explain how his team has shown such consistency when it comes to the defensive structure that’s in place. “We just emphasize pressure as much as we can, all over, so they’re not carrying the puck in, they’re not going East-West on us and making plays. So, tonight we were right on.

“That was a great effort by everybody. To get four lines rolling like we have and six defencemen, everyone taking great pride in the goals against and keeping the puck out of our net, our of zone, that’s the result.”

TOP LINE BUZZING – This was another one of those games where the Jets top line was getting a lot accomplished. By the time the final buzzer sounded, they had combined for three goals, including the empty-netter from Mark Scheifele.

Nikolaj Ehlers also had a goal and an assist, while Vilardi chipped in with a helper.

“It’s been great. We started to roll a little more, our flow has been a little better,” said Scheifele. “Obviously after the break you have a lot of days off the ice and sometimes you lose your rhythm a bit, but obviously a fantastic effort again tonight. 3-0 on the road trip is pretty awesome.”

Ehlers’ goal came on an interesting play, as he was looking to pass to Dylan Samberg but the pass caromed off his right skate and bounced right back to him, so he wound up and fired home a slapshot from his 14th goal of the campaign.

“Yeah, that was a funny one. But obviously a great shot,” said Scheifele, who is up to 14 goals and 40 points in 39 games. “He’s a fantastic player. Sometimes those things happen.”

NAMESTNIKOV STAKING HIS CLAIM – There has been plenty of chatter – and figures to be much more – about whether or not the Jets are going to be in the market for a second-line centre prior to the NHL trade deadline in early March.

Well, this was another night for Vladislav Namestnikov to stake his claim that the Jets already have one who is doing the job.

Namestnikov got the Jets on the board at 17:16 of the first period, taking advantage of a Sean Durzi turnover that was aided by the ferocious forecheck from Cole Perfetti.

Namestnikov pointed directly at Perfetti after beating Karel Vejmelka with a shot for his fifth goal (and 23rd point in 36 games).

Some days it’s hard to believe Namestsnikov started this season on the fourth line, as he’s done an excellent job playing up the lineup.

But that’s always been part of his tool kit.

“That’s Vladdy. He’s just going to show up with the hockey IQ,” said Bowness. “The confidence that he plays with, you can put Vladdy in any situation. We’ve talked about it lots.”

Namestnikov took 20 shifts for 14:44 of ice time on Sunday, finishing with one shot on goal, two shot attempts and showed his feistiness on several occasions.

PERFETTI ROLLING – Namestnikov wasn’t the only member of his line to have a big impact in the contest, as Perfetti was credited with the game-winning goal (though there was some debate that it might get changed back to Nino Niederreiter (who was originally given credit) after Josh Morrissey found Perfetti on the backdoor with a perfect seam pass during a delayed penalty situation that gave the Jets a six-on-five advantage.

“That was great. We talk about that all the time. He’s got that vision and when he gets moving down the wall, you know, that’s a, he couldn’t really find a weak spot, in a soft spot on the ice there and I’ve been working on that with him and trying to find the right time to pop into that spot,” said Perfetti. “So he starts wheeling down and I just got lost in coverage especially with it being six on five and he made a great play and I just tried to chip it up into the air and get it over the goalie. I don’t know what happened, it was a scramble and the puck went in and so I was happy to take it.”

Perfetti wasn’t sure he got the final touch before the puck crossed the goal line. Ultimately, the only thing that mattered was that it was the game-winner.

“I flipped it up and I whacked it and then it kind of just was like bouncing and then it stuck right on the post. Like just hugged up right against the post and I don’t know,” said Perfetti.

“After that I couldn’t really see from behind the net what really happened. I saw Nino come flying in and I don’t know what happened but it went into the net, so that was good.”

Perfetti is up to 26 points in 39 games this season.

SHARING THE JOY – Before the room was open to reporters, the Jets shared a moment with the male mentors that were on this road trip and there were plenty of smiling faces among them.

“It was amazing to have them here. It was good to spend time with them, to laugh and joke. It meant more to me than words can even describe,” said Scheifele. “I don’t even know if there’s a particular one. It’s just the entire time. It was just a lot of fun with all the other dads and guests. A lot of laughs. A lot of fun times. Just the whole thing.”

Perfetti said it was nearly impossible to try and pick out a highlight from everything that transpired during the past five days, from a day on the golf course to fancy dinners and sharing a bunch of magical moments.

“It’s pretty special to share that with him,” said Perfetti. “It’s going to be a trip that we cherish for a lifetime. Hopefully, many more to come.”

EXTRA, EXTRA – The Jets penalty kill has now recorded a clean sheet in three consecutive games, going six-for-six in the process. Morrissey led all skaters in ice time with 23:38, finishing with three shots on goal and a whopping 11 shot attempts. The Jets went with the same lineup again, meaning D-men Logan Stanley and Declan Chisholm were the healthy scratches. The Jets will take Monday off, so no lineup changes are expected on Tuesday against the Blue Jackets. However, with a practice scheduled for Jan. 10, it will be interesting to see when forward Rasmus Kupari might be given clearance to return to action.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld