Jets gaining altitude

Welcome to a small sample size season, when sweeping observations and hot takes can quickly become outdated and — occasionally — out of touch.

With that as a cautionary backdrop, the Winnipeg Jets are off to a 2-0-1 start that has them temporarily occupying top spot in the Central Division.

“We were optimistic that we’re a better team than we showed last year,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “We want to play fast. We want to compete hard, and we want to give ourselves a chance to win every night, so I think we’ve done that.”

As the Jets welcome the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday to open a three-game homestand, they’ve gotten off to a fast start in a season that required one.

The degree of difficulty is on the rise, with the Avalanche once again looking like a juggernaut and an Anaheim Ducks team that took a big step last season on deck as the Jets close out a stretch of five games in eight days.

While it’s far too early to draw many conclusions about where this season might be taking the Jets, there were certainly some things that have stood out through the first three games.

Power play is precise

The early returns from Davis Payne’s homework assignment are promising, with the Jets converting four-of-eight opportunities. And puck movement has been quicker while an attack mentality has brought high shot volume to go with plenty of Grade-A quality.

“We’re just being direct with it,” Jets forward Cole Perfetti said earlier in the road trip. “We have our options that we know we’re going to run based on what they’re doing and just taking what’s available and making the right play.”

The Jets led the league on the power play during the Presidents’ Trophy season and it’s helped them get out of the gate again this fall.

Kyle Connor has been a force in all situations so far, and he’s already scored three times with the man-advantage after being limited to only five power-play markers last season.

Goalies have delivered

There were plenty of questions about what not having Connor Hellebuyck around as he continues his holdout might mean for the Jets, both in the short and long term.

Of course there’s a long way to go and, yes, the first goal allowed by Stuart Skinner on a knuckle puck is one he would like to have back. But he provided solid goaltending and has turned aside 60 of the 66 shots he’s faced so far (for a .909 save percentage).

As for new backup Clay Stevenson, he’s rocking a .935 save percentage after one outing, turning aside 29-of-31 shots he faced against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Numbers can change quickly in the first 10 to 20 games, but the Jets have plenty of reasons to be confident in both of their masked men. And the Jets have done a pretty solid job of providing the template of how they want to play.

“Well, we said right from Day 1, at the beginning of training camp, our identity is our defending,” said Arniel. “A lot of guys who have been here before recognize that when we’re at our best, we limit the opposition’s quality chances.

“It helps our goaltenders to build sort of a foundation.”

Translation: the Jets want to make life as predictable as possible for the goaltenders.

“What we’ve tried to hang our hat on is our defensive identity… a tough team to get to the middle of the ice (against),” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “A team that’s tried to protect the home plate and try and make our goalies’ job as easy as possible.

“(Skinner and Stevenson) can take care of the shooters. We take care of the seams. We want to eliminate the second chance opportunities. We believe in our goalies. We trust our goalies to make the first save, and it’s our job to take away those loose pucks in front, or those guys on the seams or the back door.”

Secondary scoring starts to come

The Jets have scored five times at even strength, with three of those coming during the third period of Monday’s win.

Four of those goals have come with Lowry’s line on the ice, with two of those goals provided by defencemen (Dylan DeMelo and Mario Ferraro).

Lowry’s line helped sparked the comeback on Monday and for all of the talk about getting back to form, he’s already scored once and collected three points.

When Lowry is at his best, he’s providing physical play and forcing offensive players to spend a bunch of time defending.

Alex Iafallo’s strong third period (which featured a goal and an assist) was an encouraging sign as several veteran forwards were a little sluggish in the first two games (and part of the third).

Bjorck watch

The learning lessons have been plentiful, which is exactly what one would expect from an 18-year-old transitioning to the NHL game.

It’s true that Viggo Bjorck lost his man on the game-tying goal in the third period on Monday, but Arniel trusted him enough to put him back on the ice while protecting the lead in the latter stages of the contest. Bjorck has yet to record a point, but it hasn’t been for a lack of scoring chances he’s produced for himself or his linemates.

The centre is averaging just over 14 minutes of ice time and has four shots on goal. It seems like only a matter of time before the eighth-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft records his first point.

But Bjorck will be looking to improve significantly in the faceoff circle, as he’s only won seven of his 27 draws (25.9 per cent).

One of the more surprising stats so far is that top centre Mark Scheifele has also been held without a point in the first three outings.

That’s not cause for concern just yet, as the Jets are enjoying team success and his linemates — Connor and Perfetti — have already combined for five goals and 10 points.

Getting guys involved

Arniel spoke about the importance of getting the bulk of his roster involved early and he’s made sure that’s the case, with 22 of 23 players seeing game action already.

Inserting fresh legs meant that Arniel had to make a difficult decision in making Nino Niederreiter a healthy scratch on Monday. This may not be a matter of message sending by Arniel, but Niederreiter didn’t record a shot on net or a shot attempt in the first two games.

The forward is someone who has been counted on to chip in offensively throughout his career, but he needs to generate more and spend some additional time around the opposition’s crease to help him do so.

Meanwhile, Cole Koepke’s style of play is more suited to a fourth-line role and since he adds a physical element and kills penalties, he’s pushing to be in the lineup regularly.

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe