Jets’ power-play woes key factor in defeat to Golden Knights

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This article was published 28/03/2024 (555 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No sugar coating and no moral victories.

In a week when the Winnipeg Jets are focusing on trying to round into form with the Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner, they’ve got nothing to show for it after a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights before a third consecutive sellout crowd of 15,225 at Canada Life Centre on Thursday night.

Despite cleaning up a lot of the issues that plagued them during the second period of Tuesday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Jets generated plenty of opportunities among their 40 shots on goal (and 78 shot attempts) but could only beat former Brandon Wheat Kings goalie Logan Thompson one time.

“… At the end of the day, you’re out there to get the two points. Got to find ways to win here,” said Jets centre Sean Monahan, who scored the lone goal for the home team. “

“You are always trying to get better and everyone says it’s an important time of the year. It’s time for us to push and try and hit our peaks.”

That’s precisely what the Golden Knights managed to do when Ivan Barbashev broke a 1-1 tie at 14:31 of the third period, roofing a backhand on a rolling puck.

The Golden Knights scored twice into the empty net to get themselves some breathing room in a tightly contested battle that featured playoff-like intensity from two teams with plenty to play for.

“That was a good team we played and we outplayed them,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness, whose club dipped to 44-23-6 on the season with nine games remaining. “Much better, we played faster. It took us a little while to get going. They blocked 20 shots tonight, so that’s a little bit on us for either not shooting it quick enough or shooting it right at them. Give them a little credit for that, but we’ve got to get those pucks to the net.

“The Washington game, we outplayed Washington and we were shut out, we lose in overtime to Edmonton and (against the Golden Knights), we outplayed them in my mind. We did, but we didn’t score. We’re not going to win until we start putting that puck in the net.”

The Jets continue this five-game homestand on Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators.

1) The turning point – With the game tied 1-1 in the third period, Golden Knights defenceman Nic Hague pinched down from the right point and caught Vlad Namestnikov with a high check.

On the ice, the play was called a major and was automatically reviewed. By the time the dust settled, Hague was given a minor for an illegal check to the head and a fighting major.

Jets centre Mark Scheifele, who dropped the gloves in defence of his linemate, received an instigating minor, a fighting major and a 10-minute misconduct, which meant that he was done for the night.

“They’re calling the instigator more now. I remember when we put this in and I know why we put the instigator rule in,” said Bowness. “They got away from calling it for a while and now they’re calling it again. That’s hockey.”

So, instead of a lengthy power play, the Jets found themselves at even strength and without their top pivot.

“The referees explained to me that he didn’t raise his arm, that (Namestnikov) was low. So, you live with that call, whether you agree with it or disagree with it. It doesn’t matter,” said Bowness. “They made the call, they looked at it, so give them credit for that. So, they called a major initially so they could look at it. If that’s their review and call, you live with it.”

As for Scheifele stepping up to protect a teammate, even though it nullified the power play, Bowness supported the response whole-heartedly.

“Listen, it looked a lot worse than it obviously was. Because that’s what they called a minor. We’ve said all along we’re a family,” said Bowness. “You go after one of us, you’re going after all of us. Mark was right there. It’s unfortunate, but in the heat of the moment you want your players to play with passion and emotion. Sometimes that happens.”

2) Power outage continues – Stop us if you’ve heard this before but special teams played a role in this one, as the Jets’ power play was unable to cash in on any of the five man-advantages they had on this evening.

The Jets were dangerous on several of those opportunities, with one of the best ones coming off the stick of Nikolaj Ehlers when it was still a 1-1 game, but it went off the side of the net after a brilliant cross-ice feed by Namestnikov.

Thompson was down on the ice, leaving plenty of the net open, but Ehlers couldn’t convert on the glorious chance and didn’t hide his disappointment afterward.

“Obviously, I will be practising that (on Friday). In a game like this, if you miss a chance like this to go up 2-1 in a hard-fought game, we see what happens the other way,” said Ehlers. “It would have been nice to put that in, and the way it was going today, we probably would have ended up with the two points. That’s on me.”

Since going 3-for-3 against the Anaheim Ducks earlier this month, the Jets have gone 1-for-21 (including 0-for-10 during the homestand).

“It was a little more dangerous. And we missed a wide open net in the third period. You want those to go in. And we still generated shots,” said Bowness. “Bottom line is we’ve got to score on it. No getting away from that. You have to score on it. We had five opportunities. We put more pucks to the net and had some better looks but you have to score, and we didn’t score.”

That inability to score once again proved costly when it could have been a difference-maker.

“Yeah, the powerplay has got to be better. I mean, you get that many opportunities, you have to score a goal,” said Monahan. “But I mean, I don’t think we played terrible. I mean, a few costly mistakes and we lose the game.”

What’s missing right now for the Jets on the man-advantage?

“I don’t know exactly. I think maybe sometimes (you’ve) just got to simplify. I mean, get more bodies around the net and find a way to get a greasy one,” said Monahan. “Teams watch video and obviously, study that kind of stuff. But yeah, I think we’ve got a lot of weapons on the power play and we’ve got to find a way to produce.”

3) The tipper – Monahan scored on a redirection for the second time in as many games, tipping home a shot from Ehlers for his 23rd goal of the season and 10th in 25 games since joining the Jets in the trade with the Montreal Canadiens.

“I’m trying to get the puck to the net, and (Monahan) is just nasty at tipping them, to be honest,” said Ehlers. “You guys have seen it. He’s done it multiple times. It’s pretty incredible.”

Although there has been some debate over the configuration of the Jets’ top-six forward group, this was another example of Ehlers and Monahan finding chemistry while playing on the same line.

“It happens,” said Monahan. “It’s a great shot by him to see me there kind of alone and nice to get to stick on it.”

4) Taking the next step – Jets defenceman Logan Stanley stayed in the lineup in consecutive games and found a way to make an impact once again as he continues to battle for playing time.

Stanley laid out Golden Knights forward Michael Amadio with a big hit early in the contest, then dropped the gloves in a heavyweight tilt with Winnipeg product Keegan Kolesar.

Stanley also made some smart plays in the defensive zone, had several crisp zone exits and was noticeable (in a good way) in what was his 18th game of the season.

“He brings that big physical presence back there. Yeah, he is bringing it and he’s done a great job for us. He’s doing everything he can to help this team win,” said Bowness. “He’s not afraid to drop the gloves, which he has shown, he’s a very physical player, he throws the big hits and he’s doing a good job defensively. He’s had a very positive impact on the team.

“Absolutely, the players love what he’s doing. Players respect what he’s doing. That’s a tough job, what he has done. Give him full marks for that.”

Stanley’s teammates have noticed that positive impact he’s been making.

“You can see it. Now he’s done it two games in a row, starting off with a fight,” said Ehlers. “It gets the crowd into the game and it gets us on our feet and ready to go. That guy is a beast.”

5) Extra, extra – The Jets made a pair of lineup changes, inserting David Gustafsson up front for Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg for Nate Schmidt on the back end.

Gustafsson was limited to nine shifts for 6:42 of ice time, but he made the most of those minutes, finishing with five hits while drawing a minor penalty against Brayden McNabb for hooking.

In Samberg’s return, he took 16 shifts for 11 minutes of ice time, finishing with one shot on goal and one hit.

Asked for an update after the morning skate about a potential timeline for forward Gabriel Vilardi earlier in the day, Bowness said he would have a better idea on that after Friday’s workout.

“He tells me he feels good,” said Bowness. “I know the coaches are pushing him hard, he has no discomfort. Every day he’s getting a lot closer.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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