Frustratingly inconsistent Jets running hot, cold and in between

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This article was published 25/03/2024 (560 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Winnipeg Jets didn’t win the Stanley Cup on this just-completed five-game road trip. Nor did their season come to a screeching, stunning halt.

What they did do is remind us why both scenarios, as wildly different as they are, could be on the table when the NHL playoffs begin in about four weeks.

When they’re on, like they were against the Columbus Blue Jackets (6-1 victory) and especially the New York Rangers (4-2 victory), they can be dominant. When they’re not, like they weren’t against the New Jersey Devils (4-1 loss) and especially the New York Islanders (6-3 loss), they can be doormats.

When they’re fragile and frustrated like they were to wrap things up against the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon (3-0 loss), a good effort can quickly go to waste.

“Just make sure that we’re consistent with our process,” Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo told the Free Press when asked what he believes is the top priority heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

No question that has been missing in recent weeks, with extreme swings between — and even during — games. Fans knew what they were going to get from the Jets through the first half of the year. Not so much anymore.

Since improving to a season-high 23 games above .500 on March 3 (39-16-5), the Jets have gone as follows: Loss, win, loss, win, loss, win, win, win, loss, loss, loss. It’s not just the up-and-down results, either, but the huge disparity between performances that really stands out.

The only consistent thing about the squad these days is its inconsistency in key areas such as special teams, defensive structure and even offensive production. Consider this: The Jets have been shut out seven times this season, with six coming since Jan. 1.

“I think the biggest thing would be consistency and kind of being unflappable,” forward Mason Appleton said of the missing ingredients lately.

“It’s a game of momentum and a game of waves, and we’ve got to find ways when (opponents are) at their highs to find a way to bring them back down right away.”

Winnipeg didn’t do a good job of that against Washington. The third period began 0-0 after the Jets carried play through the first 40 minutes but were stymied by some bad puck luck and stellar Capitals goaltending.

An early power-play marker followed by a fluky second goal in the opening minutes of the final frame had the Jets reeling and unable to recover. It was a surprising look from what had been the NHL’s best third-period team.

“It’s more of a chess match this time of year. You know, it’s not as much run and gun, so it’s about playing smart hockey and you’re not gonna blow the doors off the team in the first 20,” said Appleton.

“Sometimes, it takes 59 and 60 minutes and that’s kind of got to be your mindset.”

The Jets have struggled to find that complete game other than a handful of occasions recently.

In the process, they have gone from being No. 1 in the Central Division and Western Conference at the start of this month — which would have guaranteed home-ice advantage through the first three rounds of the playoffs — to potentially starting the first round on the road as the No. 3 seed against either the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars.

Heck, don’t completely rule out falling all the way to a wild-card spot, considering the Nashville Predators have pulled to within five points of Winnipeg thanks to an incredible 15-0-2 run. Each team has 11 games remaining, including an April 9 meeting in Music City which suddenly looms large.

“Who knows where we’ll finish in the standings. We can’t pick who we play or anything like that,” said DeMelo.

“We’ve got to worry about us, worry about our process, make sure that we’re consistent with our details, our compete and our execution — that has wavered here in this last stretch. We haven’t been as consistent as we’d like to be.”

So, what’s the root cause?

Is it injury? The team is mostly healthy, save for top winger Gabe Vilardi who has missed the last 13 games and counting with an enlarged spleen and another undisclosed medical issue. They’ve gone 7-6-0 without him during that stretch. A significant loss, for sure, but every team has injuries and the Jets have plenty of forward depth to help the cause, including trade-deadline additions Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli who both had quiet road trips.

We should get a further update on Vilardi’s status when the team returns to action Tuesday, starting a five-game homestand against the Edmonton Oilers.

Is it illness? Yes, there was a virus working its way through the room over the past few weeks, which stopped a few players in their tracks. That, however, would appear to now be out of their collective systems.

Is it fatigue? The Jets have played 13 games over the past 24 days including nine away from home. They’ve bounced from the East Coast to the West Coast and back to the East Coast, with three sets of back-to-backs in enemy territory.

“It’s been a really long month so far. I don’t think you can underestimate how hard it’s been on the body for a lot of guys here,” said DeMelo.

“We’re playing 16 games this month. It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality.”

Is it getting a little too comfortable with their situation? The Jets, with a playoff spot in their future, couldn’t come close to matching the desperation of the Devils or Islanders, who are fighting to remain in the Eastern Conference wild-card picture. They did a much better job against the Capitals, who are in a similar situation, but it ultimately went for naught.

Shouldn’t Winnipeg now be feeling a similar sense of urgency?

“You always have to be,” said associate coach Scott Arniel, who has served as interim coach for the past four games while Rick Bowness has been sidelined with a medical issue.

“Our race with Colorado and Dallas has been going all season long. We’ve always been desperate in the sense of playing to our best abilities to stay up near the top, working to get home-ice advantage. That hasn’t changed.”

There’s still plenty to like about the Jets: They have an elite one-two punch in net with Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit, who are in the hunt for the stingiest tandem in the league. They now have 13 players, all forwards, in double-digits in goals, which is some serious depth. They have more roster flexibility and options than at any point this season, which can help with potential matchups.

We’ve seen, as recently as that terrific performance at Madison Square Garden last Tuesday, just what this group is capable of doing.

Perhaps, an extended dose of home cooking can get them back on the right track. After facing the Oilers, they’ll welcome the Vegas Golden Knights, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames.

At 23-9-2, the Jets have the fourth-fewest defeats on home ice, behind only Colorado (six), Vancouver (seven), and Edmonton (eight).

“If our process is right, we feel confident in going against anybody in any building. We’ve just got to make sure that we get back to that. I think we’re going to be really excited to get back home,” said DeMelo.

“We have to find a way to dig deep here, and we’re looking forward to playing in front of our home fans.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg