Jets snap five-game skid

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This article was published 10/02/2024 (604 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

That sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief from inside the Winnipeg Jets dressing room.

After five consecutive losses, the Jets were able to come up with a mostly solid effort, mixed with the realization that a sloppy second period could have cost them in what finished as a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night at Canada Life Centre.

“It’s been a while. We were trying to figure out who got the jackets,” said Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who was joking about the post-game ceremony that the team takes part in after victories. “That just shows you how long it’s been with that long break as well.

“You lose five games in a row, you don’t just want to get two points, you want to get back to playing the right way. And we did that for 40 minutes today. Now we’ve got to change that to more than 40 minutes. We know what type of team we have in here.”

That the Jets were able to exhale but also understand there was a few things that needed cleaning up is important, since things will be getting tougher during these final 32 games.

“It was huge to come out the way we did,” said Ehlers. “We played really well in that first period. We skated, we worked hard. I think we shot the puck and made it hard for them to get anything into our zone. But obviously the second period wasn’t good enough. Third period, we came back. There’s always things we can clean up, but overall we deserve to get the two points.”

Jets head coach Rick Bowness kept the particulars about his disappointment with the second period mostly to himself, despite a barrage of follow-up questions.

“The only thing I’ll tell you about the second period is that it was very frustrating and we’ll leave it at that,” said Bowness, who was asked about a pair of penalties killing the momentum. “No. No, no no. We were a little self-inflicted out there, but no.

“Just a frustrating period. But, give the players full credit because they rebounded in the third period. We played really well in the first, we played really well in the third. We played well enough to win that game and that’s all that matters. Did we get away from our game in the second period? Obviously we did.”

The Jets, who improved to 31-14-5, host the San Jose Sharks Wednesday to complete a two-game homestand.

“It’s all about winning hockey games right now,” said Jets forward Nino Niederreiter. “Obviously, when you go towards making a push and putting yourself in a great playoff spot, you need to make sure you win close hockey games.

“There are not going to be any easy games. Pretty soon there are going to be teams that are not in the playoffs anymore and those are the games that will be crucial to win because they don’t play with a lot of structure. It’s up to us to make sure we bear down on what we do.”

Let’s take a closer look at what transpired in this one:

FAST START FOR TOP LINE: One of the big storylines going into the contest revolved around Ehlers being promoted to the top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

That line started off the contest and generated several odd-man rushes during the first period, eventually converting when Ehlers made a perfect feed over the stick of Penguins defenceman Erik Karlsson for a one-timer from Scheifele, who is up to 15 goals on the season.

Ehlers started the play in the defensive zone with a smart read, knocking the puck out of the air on a pass attempt.

“I kind of knew where it was coming. And I knew even if I didn’t get it I would still have the guy coming into the zone getting that puck, and I just tried to get a stick on it. Fortunately it worked,” said Ehlers, who was asked about what he was thinking as the play came into the offensive zone. “Well last game it didn’t work with me shooting. Kind of knew I was passing this one. And I thought Karlsson was a little too deep so I could make that pass. It was pretty wide open.”

The line of Scheifele, Ehlers and Connor combined for 13 shots on goal at even strength, 20 shot attempts and 11 scoring chances, four of which were of the high-danger variety.

“We skated,” said Ehlers. “All three can skate and when we use that we make it hard for the defence to step up on us. And that creates time and space for us to make the kind of plays we know we can make. In the second period, I think at least for myself, tried to make too many plays that turned into some turnovers.”

Bowness liked what he saw from the trio.

“Oh they were flying,” he said. “Look at the chances, we’re walking in all alone, breakaways, 2-on-1s right off the bat. So the win’s got to help us. Eventually those pucks will start going in for us.”

THE DROUGHT ENDS: Niederreiter went back to his office to snap a 15-game goal-scoring drought, finding a Nate Schmidt shot that went off the end boards before finding the back of the net.

Niederreiter is up to 13 goals on the season with many of them coming in and around the blue paint.

“I’m trying to get there as (much) as I can,” said Niederreiter. “It’s not easy to get there. But once you’re there, pucks are getting delivered there and it’s a matter of timing, but I’m glad I found one.”

Niederreiter was denied on a quality chance in Thursday’s 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

“In Philly, it was definitely a game where we as a line connected,” said Niederreiter. “We had a ton of close chances and myself too, a great chance. I just realized I have to stay with it and eventually it will come.”

The reward came on Saturday.

“If you look at the game in Philly, that line had four or five great chances to score,” said Bowness. “It just wasn’t going in. We met with them (on Saturday) morning and (told them) just keep doing what you’re doing. You’re going to get some breaks. It’s gonna go in.

“That line, they’ve been very good. We needed to get that third period off on the right foot and they did it. They got the puck deep and they got the forecheck going so they did their job and it’s nice to see them finally get rewarded for it.”

HELLEBUYCK STANDS TALL: Making his 37th start of the season, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was in fine form, finishing with 35 saves.

“He was terrific,” ,” said Niederreiter. “He’s our backbone. He helps us win hockey games each and every night and gives us a great chance.”

Without the play of Hellebuyck — especially during the second period, when the Jets were outshot 16-7 and outchanced — the Jets might have been talking about a six-game losing skid.

“If he didn’t play the way he did in that second period, we probably wouldn’t have been ahead,” said Ehlers. “I’ve said this a million times now. We’ve got two pretty good goalies, and they’re top class. We’re pretty fortunate with that.”

HIGH-EVENT HOCKEY: As Jets defenceman Logan Stanley played for just the second time since Dec. 12, there was a lot happening for him in this contest.

An early turnover led to a glorious scoring chance in the slot for Penguins forward Colin White, but Stanley regrouped before the end of the first period to record his first point, an assist on the goal from Niederreiter. Stanley was whistled for two minor penalties in the second period, one for interference and another for roughing, finishing with two hits in 14:12 of ice time.

“Logan’s been good considering what we’ve done to him and only playing him the number of games we’ve played him,” said Bowness.

With three full days before their next game, the Jets will decide if they want to stick with Stanley on the third pairing or if they might consider recalling Ville Heinola from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

Heinola is up to 12 AHL games played as he works his way back from a fractured ankle and he recorded a goal on Saturday against the Grand Rapids Griffins. In order to make room for Heinola on the roster, the Jets would have to subject someone to waivers or make a trade.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Saturday’s game was the fourth sellout of the season and there was plenty of black and yellow sprinkled in throughout the stands.

The lone healthy scratch for the Jets was forward Dominic Toninato, while Brenden Dillon sat out the second game of his three-game suspension. Connor suited up in his 500th NHL game on Saturday and the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has recorded 228 goals and 454 points since breaking into the league.

Former Jets forward Jansen Harkins was given a warm welcome by fans in the building when a message was put up on the scoreboard during a first-period stoppage. Harkins had a quality scoring chance and was also on the receiving end of a heavy check from Jets captain Adam Lowry during the first period.

Harkins seemed to be favouring his right shoulder after the collision, but he remained in the game and finished with 5:37 of ice time, although he didn’t take a shift during the third period.