Jets answer the bell in heavyweight bout

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This article was published 26/03/2025 (193 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Scott Arniel stood at the podium and gave an honest answer, the joy of victory pulsing through his veins.

The head coach of the Winnipeg Jets wasn’t making a bold declaration or getting ahead of himself.

That’s just not the way he operates.

But after a scintillating 3-2 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals in the battle between the two top teams in the NHL right now, Arniel couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when discussing the prospect of these two teams getting back together again in June for a high stakes, best-of-seven series.

“Yeah, I mean I’m hoping that we have a rematch,” said Arniel, knowing full well that the only way a rematch could take place would be in the Stanley Cup final. “It would be really nice. At the end of the day, yeah, it is bragging rights on the line. Not that we’re looking at who’s going to be the best and that’s our No. 1 priority.”

No, the No. 1 priority for the Jets with 10 games left in the regular season is to maintain the high standard of play that they’ve set for themselves.

It means reinforcing good habits and getting playoff ready.

Tuesday’s outing was another great example of that.

Coming off a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, the Jets knew what details needed cleaning up and knew the type of battle they were preparing for in facing a Capitals team that had won nine of its previous 10 games and was clicking on all cylinders.

Simply put, the Jets answered the bell, going toe-to-toe with the team they’re battling for the Presidents’ Trophy.

Unlike the 5-4 thriller in the U.S. capitol last month, this game was not nearly as loose defensively.

It was tight-checking and much closer to the identity both teams have established.

Stylistically, it was the type of effort required for when the post-season begins in mid-April.

“At the end of the day, that’s the callouses that we talked about getting, the scars that you get over the course of the season,” said Arniel. “So that when you run into the playoffs, you’ve been through this a few times. And I think that this was a really big test for us, running into these kinds of games.

“To go against a heavyweight team like that and come out with the two points, that’s real good growth for us and real good things that we’re trying to build towards Game 83 and on.”

It was an all-encompassing effort, with speedy winger Nikolaj Ehlers bringing fans to their feet with his explosive rush at the end of a long shift.

Arniel explained that he moved Ehlers with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton to use his speed as a weapon and to help support a puck-possession game, knowing that the trio would see ample time up against big and strong forwards like Tom Wilson and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Ehlers is up to 24 goals and 61 points and looks poised for a breakout playoff performance.

“He recognizes who he’s playing with,” said Arniel. “He knows how to get to holes. Knows to get to spots when you’re playing with those types of guys. He’s a veteran player. He’s been around a little while. Knows how to play in a lot of situations.”

Speaking of situational play, there was defenceman Dylan Samberg exuding confidence and calm in the chaos that can come with three-on-three overtime.

After the Jets spent most of the first 70-plus seconds defending, Samberg stood behind the net after his team gained possession and quickly recognized the Capitals were in the midst of a line change.

After seeing Ehlers accelerate through the neutral zone, Samberg found him in full stride with a perfect bank pass off the wall.

Ehlers took care of the rest, pulling the Jets within a point of the Capitals (who hold a game in hand) in the chase for first overall and providing some valuable breathing room over a Dallas Stars team that simply won’t go away in the race for top spot in the Central Division.

This was another signature showing for Samberg, whose emergence as a stalwart on the second pair has been a massive development for this team.

Outside of the increase in offence, his defensive durability has been essential for the Jets maintaining the mantle as the top defensive team in the NHL.

During the first period alone, Samberg was doing what he does best, getting into lanes and blocking shots — one that stung his left arm and another that stung his right.

By the time the horn sounded, Samberg had taken 26 shifts for 23:29 of ice time — only Josh Morrissey had more.

Taking on more responsibility in overtime has been the latest step forward in Samberg’s progression and during the past week alone, he’s supplied his first OT winner and first assist in extra time.

“He’s kind of on the fly learning how to do it,” said Arniel. “We got hemmed in there with them getting possession of the puck, but those guys did a good job keeping it to the outside. They just waited for their opportunity to get the puck back.

“I like the way Sammy recognized where they were at. Just a great way to end a great game.”

As the Jets played a first game without forward Gabe Vilardi, there was Mason Appleton scoring for the first time in 12 games, ripping home a pass from Nino Niederreiter, who is riding a three-game point streak after working his way through a dry spell.

The absence of Vilardi, at least in the short term, enhances the importance of secondary scoring for a team that’s provided it consistently throughout the course of the season.

“I think that’s just the cliché team mindset that everyone needs to step up a little bit,” said Appleton. “Obviously, (Vilardi) is having a heck of a year and he’s a great player for our team and, until he’s back, it’s a collective group mindset. We all need to be a little better, give a little more, and pick up that slack with him out.”

There were no signs of champagne spraying in the dressing room as the Jets punched their ticket to the post-season with 10 games remaining.

One goal has been accomplished, but plenty of heavy lifting remains for the Jets to get where they hope to be come June.

“You have to be appreciative of what we’ve done, obviously,” said Arniel. “At the start of the year, our first goal — we have a few goals — was to eliminate eight teams (in the Western Conference). And we did that after 60 minutes.

“You have to applaud our players for doing that. Would’ve liked to have done it against Buffalo but, at the same time… to win the game and get that extra point, it’s sort of the cream on the top.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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