Kings snap Jets’ winning streak

Scott Arniel thought the Winnipeg Jets did enough defensively to earn a different result.

But when it comes to the quality and quantity of the looks generated, that’s where the Jets fell short in the eyes of the head coach during what became a 3-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday after two insurance markers were allowed in the final five minutes of regulation time.

“I don’t think we created enough offence,” Arniel told reporters in California. “We didn’t give up much. We gave up one in the first, obviously a big one. But I didn’t think we got to second opportunities or continuous attacks.

“When we’re on, it’s a shot, it’s a rebound and then, all of a sudden, it’s another play. Today, we were kind of one and done. We only had 10 five-on-five scoring chances. Our power play, we were one play away from maybe making it happen. The execution just wasn’t as sharp as it usually is. They did a pretty good job of keeping us on our heels.”

With the defeat, the Jets saw their three-game winning streak snapped and their record fall to 9-4-0.

“They play hard. They’re a well-structured team, especially in this building, and we knew what we had to do when we got in on the forecheck,” Jets forward Gabe Vilardi told reporters. “We had our looks. We had chances, a lot of power plays, but we couldn’t score.”

Winnipeg continues a season-long six-game road trip on Friday in San Jose against Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks.

Here’s a look at what else transpired in this one:

THE DEBATE: The Jets thought they had opened the scoring at 8:23 of the first period when a point shot from Josh Morrissey went in off the pad of Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper.

Vilardi was providing the screen in front of Kuemper and the potential marker was waved off immediately for goalie interference.

After much deliberation, Arniel opted to use a coach’s challenge to argue that it wasn’t goalie interference, hoping the call would be overturned.

Following the video review, the call on the ice ended up standing and the Jets were given a delay-of-game penalty.

“It’s tough when it gets waved off right away by the referees,” said Arniel. “We were looking at it and looking at it and we had time during the (broadcast) timeout. We just felt that if it was the other way around, we probably wouldn’t have challenged it if it had been (on Connor Hellebuyck). We felt that there wasn’t enough contact. Obviously, they saw it a different way.”

Video replays showed that Vilardi’s left arm grazed Kuemper, but the important part of the play was that the contact occurred while the Jets forward was in and around the blue paint.

Although the contact was minimal — and Kuemper may have actually initiated some of that contact, the call was consistent with the standard that has been applied during the past several seasons.

Vilardi didn’t hold back when asked for his opinion of the ruling by those who were on the scene in California.

“My view was, I’m doing my best to stay out of the crease. There’s a little nudge from the guy, and I think I’m barely in the crease. I think it’s a goal. I think that’s pretty soft,” Vilardi told reporters. “I don’t know what their rules on it are, I don’t know how they determine what’s goalie interference and what’s not.”

The explanation given by the situation room was that Vilardi impeded Kuemper’s ability to make the save.

“I don’t know. It’s tough, it’s a tough call for them,” said Vilardi. “I don’t want to step on their toes or anything. I think it’s a goal, obviously, but what are you gonna do?”

The Jets couldn’t do anything other than to try and kill off the minor penalty that came with the decision – which they did.

THE RETURN: The Jets were happy to see captain Adam Lowry back in the lineup for the first time this season as he makes his way back from off-season hip surgery.

Lowry centred the third line with Nino Niederreiter and Tanner Pearson and while he had some rust to shake off, he moved well and managed one shot on goal while shorthanded, delivered four hits and blocked two shots in just over 14 minutes of ice time.

“That was the idea. To try to get him out there as much as possible, try to not get him thinking, just get him playing,” said Arniel. “He’s missed a lot of time. He got stronger as the game went on, he got more comfortable. You knew it was going to be this way, just kind of build off it.”

Lowry was even called upon to be the lone forward during the lengthy two-man disadvantage during the third period.

“Because he’s done it before,” Arniel explained. “He’s a guy who knows what he’s doing and he did a good job with it.”

With Morgan Barron officially out week-to-week with a mid-body injury, Lowry wasn’t exactly eased into action, as he played 3:46 while shorthanded and just over 10 minutes at five-on-five.

The only place where Lowry didn’t look quite like himself was in the faceoff circle, where he went one-for-13 (eight per cent) in his season debut.

Having an extra day off between games should be a benefit for Lowry, who will then get into the rhythm of playing every other day on this extended road trip.

THE BREAKDOWN: The goal from Kings forward Adrian Kempe that opened the scoring was an uncharacteristic breakdown in the defensive zone, with the Kings winger getting free in front before former Jets forward Joel Armia found him with a pass.

Arniel wasn’t about to point fingers on the play, but his disappointment was evident as he referenced that being something that showed up on the pre-scout of the Kings.

“That first goal is a coverage goal,” said Arniel. “It’s all five (guys on the ice). Sort of the tendency that happens, it came from behind the net. They’re a team that likes to find that middle. We had talked about it.”

Kempe extended his point streak against Winnipeg to six games.

Kempe has delivered five goals and 10 points during that span against the Jets and he’s up to six goals and 16 points in 14 games this season to lead the Kings in scoring.

The Swedish forward needs a new contract as a pending UFA and that next AAV seems to be getting higher by the day.

THE KEY PLAY: A power-play marker from Kevin Fiala with five minutes to go in the third period provided some valuable breathing room for the Kings.

THE THREE STARS

• Darcy Kuemper, Kings, Posted a 23-save shutout.
• Adrian Kempe, Kings, Scored the game-winning goal.
• Connor Hellebuyck, Made 23 saves in this goaltenders’ duel.

EXTRA, EXTRA: Jets defenceman Luke Schenn was a late scratch as he continues to deal with an injury related to a shot he blocked against the Chicago Blackhawks. That allowed Haydn Fleury to remain on the third pairing with Colin Miller.

The Jets only healthy scratch was forward Nikita Chibrikov.

In order to make room on the roster for the return of Lowry, forward Gustav Nyquist was placed on injured reserve.

After losing the first five games of the season on home ice, the Kings finally broke the goose-egg by posting a shutout against a Jets team that was previously undefeated on the road.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld