Jets keep on rolling with 3-0 shutout over Preds

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This article was published 30/12/2024 (280 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets are hitting their stride once again.

Thanks to a 3-0 shutout over the Nashville Predators on Monday before the sixth sellout crowd of the season at Canada Life Centre, the Jets are riding a four-game winning streak.

After posting victories over the Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, the Jets delivered a tidy defensive effort, scored first and then won the special-teams battle as they continued their domination in the Central Division this season and evened up the season series with the Predators.

“We just stuck with it. That’s just our group,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “Our group doesn’t get too fazed by things and they stay in the moment.”

The Jets, who improved to 27-10-1 and continue to lead the NHL in wins and points, close out the month and the calendar year on Tuesday night in Denver against the Colorado Avalanche.

Let’s take a closer look at this one:

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE VS IMMOVABLE OBJECT

This matchup featured the top power play in the NHL (Jets) and the No. 1 ranked penalty kill (Predators).

Through the first two periods, the Predators had successfully killed off three minor penalties, limiting the Jets’ opportunities with the man advantage.

With the Jets up 1-0 and Predators defenceman Jeremy Lauzon in the penalty box serving his third minor of the contest, an extra player jumped onto the ice and Nashville received a bench minor for having too many men on the ice.

That gave the Jets a two-man advantage for 48 seconds, so Arniel called a timeout to give his top power-play unit a quick breather.

It didn’t take long for the Jets to strike.

After Mark Scheifele won the draw, Kyle Connor got the puck down low to Nikolaj Ehlers and he found Vilardi in the slot for a one-timer.

Then with 43 seconds to go in the bench minor, Vilardi scored his second on the contest, posting up on the far post and finding the loose puck after a shot by Connor.

Ehlers showed off his soccer skills on the play, kicking the puck over to Connor.

“Yeah, that’s my spot, I guess,” said Vilardi, responding to a question about the goals coming from his office. “They do a good job of getting me the puck. So, (I) don’t want to go anywhere else.”

Vilardi is up to 17 goals and 34 points in 38 games this season.

THE PROMOTION

Arniel said after the morning skate that a few Jets were banged up and that led to a late scratch for right-winger Mason Appleton, who is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, according to Arniel.

Alex Iafallo was bumped up to the line with Adam Lowry and Nino Niederreiter. Combined with his work on the second power-play unit and the penalty kill, it made for a busy night.

Iafallo took 23 shifts for 18:28.

David Gustafsson returned to the lineup and was back at centre on the fourth line.

With Appleton on the shelf, the Jets recalled forward Dominic Toninato from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

A corresponding move had the Jets place defenceman Haydn Fleury on injured reserve with a suspected knee injury.

THE PROMOTION II

After playing just more than 19 minutes in Saturday’s win over the Ottawa Senators, Logan Stanley started Monday’s game on the second pairing with Neal Pionk.

It was another heavy workload for Stanley, who finished with 23 shifts for 18:21 of ice time.

Stanley made a smart play at the offensive blue line on Dylan DeMelo’s goal, getting the puck down on the half wall to Morgan Barron before opening up to give Barron another passing option.

Barron was able to thread the needle to DeMelo instead and he buried his shot for his first goal of the season — and first in 42 games, dating back to April 9 when he scored against — you guessed it — the Predators.

“I mean, it was a beauty, too. A snipe,” said Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who recorded his fifth shutout of the season and 42nd of his career by making 22 saves. “What can you say about the guy? He does it all now.”

Defenceman Dylan Coghlan drew back into the Jets’ lineup for his second game of the campaign, skating alongside Colin Miller on the third pairing, as Ville Heinola was a healthy scratch.

Coghlan, whose last game came on Nov. 29 against the Vegas Golden Knights, made several smart reads and did precisely what you need to do when you’re trying to petition for more opportunities.

“I liked a lot of what he did,” said Arniel. “Obviously, he had to come in and play the left side. He has played there before, he’s had experience there and liked a lot of what he did. I think that he kept it simple, first and foremost, and that kind of led to a solid game.”

KEY PLAY

Morgan Barron found Dylan DeMelo with a perfect seam pass and the Jets defenceman scored his first goal in 42 games for the eventual game-winner.

THE THREE STARS

Gabe Vilardi, Jets – Two power-play goals, nine shot attempts.

Connor Hellebuyck, Jets – Records a 22-save shutout to post his fifth goose egg of the season.

Kyle Connor, Jets – Two assists, eight shot attempts.

 

EXTRA, EXTRA

Connor extended his point streak to seven games and he’s up to 22 goals and 51 points this season.

The Jets got a scare when centre Vladislav Namestnikov left the game with just over 12 minutes to go in the third period after he blocked a shot from Predators captain Roman Josi with his right arm/hand. Namestnikov briefly went to the dressing room for further evaluation but returned to finish the contest.

Jets centre Mark Scheifele was named the NHL’s first star of the week after producing four goals and six points in two games. Scheifele is up to 22 goals and 44 points in 38 games this season. Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin and Columbus Blue Jackets blue-liner Zach Werenski were the second and third stars.

Jets defenceman Dylan Samberg was on the ice in a non-contact jersey on Monday for an optional skate, but Arniel didn’t say anything to suggest his return to the lineup was imminent. The timeline is for Samberg to return in early January, but the next step for him will be to participate with the full group. Once he sheds the non-contact jersey, then it won’t be long until he’s back in game action.

 

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld