Connor connects in OT

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This article was published 25/02/2024 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kyle Connor might not be totally back up to speed, but if he gets the puck on his stick with the game on the line, he’s as dangerous as ever.

The Winnipeg Jets left-winger scored another two goals — including his second overtime winner in as many games — to help propel his team to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night.

Connor, who ripped home a one-timer on a three-on-one rush with Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele, ended the contest 33 seconds into the fourth period for his team-leading seventh winner of the campaign — which is even more impressive when you consider he missed 16 games with a knee injury he suffered on Dec. 10.

Combined with his one-timer on the power play that gave the Jets a 2-1 lead at 14:45 of the first period, Connor is up to 23 goals and 50 points in 50 games this season. He’s also racked up nine overtime winners in regulation time in 506 games during his NHL career.

“He’s hitting it well and he’s going to the right areas,” said Scheifele, who had a goal and three assists. “He’s making a lot of little plays that not a lot of people see. He’s been fun to play with. I love playing with him, but we’ve just got to keep going.”

It was another impressive showing from Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who made 29 saves in what was his 42nd start of the season.

The Jets improved to 5-5 in overtime this season.

“We’ve got the best goalie in the world and then you’ve got guys like Mark, Kyle and JMo who make plays like that,” said Vilardi. “Kind of got away from us at certain moments, but it was a good team win to grind it out and get two points.”

The Jets, who improved to 36-15-5, will face the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday to close out this abbreviated homestand.

Let’s take a closer look at what transpired on Sunday:

1) The hustle – The Jets got an early jump on the Coyotes, when Scheifele won a race to a puck that was dumped in perfectly by Morrissey. It seemed evident Morrissey saw Scheifele streaking down the right wing when he shot the puck for a cross-ice dump-in from the neutral zone, just over the goal line. Scheifele picked the puck up and slipped a backhand through the pads of Coyotes goalie Connor Ingram.

It was the first point in four games for Scheifele, but it would not be his last in this contest. In fact, he was just getting started. His four-point outing was his second in his past five games – the other also a goal and three helpers in the 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks – and he’s up to 11 four-point nights in his NHL career.

2) The patience – The resurgence for the Jets power play has been impressive to witness and there’s no doubt that the arrival of Sean Monahan has provided some cohesion for a top unit that had struggled for lengthy stretches this season. But when the Jets top unit struck for two more goals with the man-advantage on Sunday, they were forced to do so without Monahan doing his thing in the bumper position as he was sidelined with an illness. Not to worry, as Gabriel Vilardi continues to flourish in his spot down low. Vilardi showed off his passing skills, finding Connor for a one-timer for the first power play marker.

“He’s a smart player too, and he knows his angles. He’s making sure he knows where guys’ sticks are and what options are there. He made some tremendous plays. He’s so talented in front of the net,” said Scheifele. “You get the puck in his hands, you know something is going to happen. We will continue to work at it and get better and better every day.”

Vilardi showed off his soft hands in tight on the second power play goal. After taking a pass from Scheifele with his back to the net, Vilardi pivoted quickly and sold Ingram on the potential for a shot to the forehand, then quickly pulled the puck back and beat him with the backhand deke. That was a slippery move that was executed perfectly. “I have my back to the play but I’m doing a lot of pre-scanning. So it’s not just like I’m standing there and I don’t know,” said Vilardi. “I’m going like this (moves head back and forth) and then I know when he’s going to give me the puck. And Mark is so smart, he’s not going to give me the puck when I’m pre-checking. Just scanning and making your reads off of what they give you.”

The Jets are 8-for-16 on the power play during the past five games coming out of the zero-for-22 stretch, moving the team up to 22nd in the NHL with an 18.1% efficiency rating.

“Getting down the stretch here and when the playoffs start, you need a good power play because those games are a grind and a lot of the time low scoring,” said Vilardi. “Special teams battles will be crucial in winning those types of games. You saw it tonight, we won the special teams battle again.”

3) The lack of concern – After building a 3-1 lead, the Jets looked lethargic for an extended period of time in the second and third periods, allowing the Coyotes to even the score and force the game to overtime after scoring once in the second period (Matias Maccelli) and again 64 seconds into the third period after Alex Kerfoot found Nick Schmaltz alone in the slot for his second goal of the game. The Jets defensive structure has been its foundation this season, but there have been some uncharacteristic breakdowns during the past stretch of games. This has become a common theme for many contenders around the league and the Jets have managed to win six of the past seven games, so Bowness isn’t getting overworked about it becoming a trend.

“We can tighten it up. Listen, we have the best winning percentage in the Western Conference. We’re doing pretty good,” said Bowness. “I’m not concerned about it. We have to stay on top of it, yes. It’s going to happen. You play 82 games, every game is not a Picasso. It’s not. When you see little things creeping in, we address it. So, we’ll stay on top of it.”

4) The changes – With Monahan a late scratch, forward Rasmus Kupari was back in the lineup for just the second time since late January. Kupari centred the fourth line and finished with 7:30 of ice time on nine even-strength shifts. The only other lineup change for the Jets saw Nate Schmidt re-inserted on the third defence pairing with Dylan Samberg. Schmidt had a good scoring chance in the third period, redirecting a pass from Nikolaj Ehlers. Schmidt had two shots on goal, three shot attempts, two hits and a blocked shot in just under 17 minutes of ice time.

5) Extra, extra – Morrissey continued his red hot stretch on Sunday, racking up three assists for a second consecutive game. During his past four games, Morrissey has accumulated nine points to move him to seven goals and 44 points in 56 games. Coyotes left-winger Clayton Keller left the contest in the second period with an upper-body issue and did not return. Centre David Gustafsson finished off his two-week conditioning stint with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League on Saturday, chipping in two assists in a 4-2 win over the Calgary Wranglers. That gave Gustafsson three helpers in six games with the Moose, who split the weekend series with the Wranglers.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld