Jets get revenge with 6-3 win over Panthers

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This article was published 19/11/2024 (318 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s safe to say the Winnipeg Jets found another gear in this one.

Urged by head coach Scott Arniel to get back to playing faster all over the ice, the Jets responded to Saturday’s lopsided loss to the Florida Panthers by turning the tables in a 6-3 victory before a sellout crowd of 15,225 at Canada Life Centre on Tuesday night in Winnipeg.

Mark Scheifele recorded the ninth hat trick of his career to pace the offensive attack, moving him to 12 goals for the season for the Jets, who improved to 16-3.

“We made adjustments. We didn’t like the way we played,” said Scheifele. “They played us hard and did certain things. And when you get the opportunity to play a team back-to-back like that, you’ve got to make some adjustments, especially losing 5-rip. And we did that, and it paid off.”

This was a determined effort in all facets of the game and one that was required after the Jets didn’t come close to their standard in Saturday’s 5-0 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Let’s just say the video session was not kind to any Jets players on Monday.

“There was lots they got to see. And it wasn’t loud and screaming. It was just obvious,” said Arniel. “It was just obvious stuff that Florida did that we didn’t do. Everybody was involved in the video. Every guy got to be a star and I thought everybody wanted to make amends.

“You could tell the guys really wanted another piece of the Florida Panthers. And I’m glad they’re in the Eastern Conference.”

Although there were several anxious moments before Morgan Barron iced the game with a pair of late empty-net goals (one of which was banked off the boards in the neutral zone), the Jets looked more like themselves.

“No, terrible, so I don’t know how I made that happen but it worked,” said Barron, who was asked if he’s a good pool player. “Some of the guys were making fun of me for school and Cornell. But that’s not it at all, I promise.

“It just kind of opened up and I didn’t have a lane at it. So my thought was to just kind of get it down to the other end of the ice. I figured if I’m going to shoot it down anyways, I figured I might as well put it in a place that has a chance. I think the puck actually went on its edge, so I thought it was going to roll wide, but it didn’t.”

The Jets head out on a season-long six-game road trip that begins on Friday in Pittsburgh against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins.

Let’s take a closer look at what transpired:

THE ANSWER – After being held off the board in the previous two games to close out the road trip, Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi combined for three goals at five-on-five to get back onto the positive side of the ledger in goals for/goals against.

The line also generated 12 scoring chances for the Jets at five-on-five compared to allowing four scoring chances against, according to Natural Stat Trick.

To complete his hat trick, the Jets’ top power play unit had the puck in the offensive zone and generated plenty of momentum during a third period power play, Connor found Scheifele on the doorstep moments after the minor penalty expired.

The shift lasted two minutes and six seconds.

“I think you’re always more tired defending than you are with the puck,” said Scheifele. “When you have the chance to score, you find a little extra energy.”

That moves the top line to 15 goals for, while allowing 11 for a plus-4 ratio at five-on-five.

THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY – The Jets had a glorious opportunity to extend the lead at 4:21 of the second period when they had a two-man advantage for a full two minutes.

Uvis Balinskis was given the original minor for tripping Scheifele and Evan Rodrigues was called for roughing (on Dylan DeMelo) in the corner.

Although the Jets generated four shots on goal during the power play, they got a bit stationary and didn’t move the puck quickly enough and came up empty, despite considerable time set up in the offensive zone.

However, the Jets did strike on the power play for the first time in 10 opportunities late in the second period when Nikolaj Ehlers found Scheifele for a blistering one-timer.

AFTERBURNER

The key play: Barron’s first of two empty-net goals restored a two-goal cushion after the Panthers had cut the deficit to 4-3 on a power-play marker from Matthew Tkachuk.

Three stars

Jets C Mark Scheifele, 3 G, 3 P

Jets D Josh Morrissey, 0 G, 2 P

Jets LW Morgan Barron, 2 G, 2 P

THE ASSIGNMENT – The Jets assigned defenceman Ville Heinola to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League on a conditioning stint that could last up to two weeks. However, Arniel let it be known that Heinola will suit up in two games (on Thursday and Saturday) before he will be recalled and join the Jets in Minnesota, where they will be preparing for Monday’s game against the Wild.

“Obviously it’s been a tough two years for him. I’m probably his biggest fan here. I want to see him,” said Arniel, joking that he told Moose head coach Mark Morrisson to play him around 30 minutes per game. “He’s going to get in all situations. We need to get him playing games and then we need to get him in our lineup.”

Heinola suffered a fractured ankle in the final preseason game in October of 2023 and on the second day of training camp in 2024, there were some complications that popped up in his ankle that were related to the original injury.

That required another surgery and now Heinola is going to do his best to get up to speed so he can jump into the Jets’ lineup as early as Game 3 of the season-long six-game road trip.

EXTRA, EXTRA – Morrissey chipped in a pair of assists and is back up to producing at a point per game rate. He’s up to 19 points in 19 games.

Connor Hellebuyck made 20 saves as he improved to 13-2 for the season.

The Jets scratches were forward David Gustafsson and defenceman Dylan Coghlan. Gustafsson has suited up in only one game this season, while Coghlan is up to 19 consecutive healthy scratches.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld