MAILBAG CALL-OUT
We’re making a list and checking it twice as we get set for our final monthly Jets mailbag of 2025, which will go online this Sunday. Got a question about the hockey club? Simply hit reply to this email and Mike and Ken will be sure to tackle it.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: The Hellebump is real — and, for the Jets, it’s pretty spectacular. There’s no question the return of the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner has given this fragile group some of its swagger back. You could see that by the way they carried themselves on the ice against the Capitals. And you could hear it in the way players spoke over the past couple of days.
It will be interesting to see how the Jets manage Hellebuyck’s workload here. The plan at the start of the year was to try to keep him to a maximum of about 60 starts, meaning Eric Comrie would get at least 22. But here we are on Dec. 15 and both guys are at 15 each. (Thomas Milic also has one).
Obviously the Jets can’t play Hellebuyck in 45 of the remaining 51 games…right? Certainly not with him likely carrying a heavy workload in the upcoming Winter Olympics. But with the team desperate for wins and points, the urge to lean on him more than they expected over these last few months will be strong.
How about the offensive surge of Logan Stanley? Now up to five goals on the year — the same number he had through his first five seasons combined — there’s no question the big man is playing with some major confidence. I’m not exaggerating when I say there’s a noticeable buzz in the crowd every time he has the puck on his stick in the offensive zone these days, as if the crowd is anticipating something special is about to happen. It’s a fun little unexpected development, that’s for sure.
“I’m not surprised with the talent side of it. You see it in practice, and at times during a game,” Arniel said of the scoring surge by the six-foot-seven guy known to fans as “Stanimal.”
“Obviously with a lot of our D we want them to defend first and foremost and then if you get a chance offensively take advantage of it. You guys saw early on when he first came up here as a young kid that shot of his and getting pucks to the net. I think he’s doing a good job of that. The other side, too, he gets up in the rush and we talk about a four-man rush. He’s doing a good job of that and reading those situations.”
He certainly did against Washington, getting in behind coverage and then batting a puck out of mid-air just a few feet from the net. Perhaps he’s got a future as a forward in this league?
KEN SAYS: The reunion of the Jets’ top line was a productive one, as Gabe Vilardi scored twice (once on the power play and once at five-on-five) to propel his team to victory. Vilardi also moved into a tie for the team lead in goals with Mark Scheifele (16), with Kyle Connor sitting third with (15).
The revamped Jets checking line is finding its stride and coming off one of its best games of the season, with captain Adam Lowry now between Morgan Barron and Iafallo.
Barron and Iafallo both scored for the second time in as many games, while Lowry chipped in a pair of assists and was very involved on the forecheck. The trio also did a great job defensively in a shutdown role on Saturday against Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas and one would suspect they will be asked to do the same in this contest.
The secondary scoring has been coming along for the Jets during the past two outings, but Vladislav Namestnikov is still working his way out of this lengthy dry spell, as he’s been limited to one assist in the past 19 games. However, with four shots on goal and a couple of dangerous scoring chances against the Capitals, Namestnikov showed signs that he could be poised to snap out of the slump.
“He’s a guy that, you know when he’s feeling good and you know he’s feeling confident,” said Arniel. “I’m starting to see more of that. You can see him hold onto pucks, doing more things. He’s gotten some great looks, so hopefully tonight he can put one of those in the net. But yeah, it’s just part of staying with it, don’t try to look for an easy route to score a goal and that’s what he’s doing a good job of.”
For the Senators, it sounds like they’ve been playing better than what their record shows of late. But they don’t have much to show for it, as they’ve fallen below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.
Senators centre Tim Stutzle leads his team in goals (15) and is tied for the points lead with Drake Batherson (30), while captain Brady Tkachuk has nine goals and 14 points in 21 career games against the Jets.
It’s been a tough start to the season for Ullmark, who has a 3.05 goals-against average and .877 save percentage in 23 starts this season after signing a lucrative contract extension. Ullmark is more than capable of getting himself back on track, but an additional save or two could go a long way towards getting things turned around.
Although it’s a small sample size, Ullmark has enjoyed success against the Jets during his career, going 2-1 with a 2.34 goals-against average and .937 save percentage, turning aside 104 of the 111 shots on goal that he’s faced.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Barron-Lowry-Iafallo
- Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Koepke-Toews-Nyquist
DEFENCE
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Stanley-Schenn
GOAL
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Miller, D Fleury, F Pearson
INJURED: None
OTTAWA SENATORS
FORWARDS
- Tkachuk-Stutzle-Zetterlund
- Perron-Cozens-Batherson
- Amadio-Greig-Giroux
- MacDermid-Halliday-Cousins
DEFENCE
- Sanderson-Zub
- Kleven-Spence
- Matinpalo-Jensen
GOAL
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Gilbert, F Lycksell
INJURED: D Chabot (upper-body), F Pinto (lower-body), F Eller (lower-body)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on limiting the Capitals to just a handful of high-danger chances on Saturday:
“That’s our DNA. We frustrate teams because we don’t let them get into their offensive game. That allows us to play more in the opposition’s (end). I think that was the third game in a row where our O-zone time five-on-five is higher than the opposition. That’s another good sign that we’re not playing in our end and we’re doing the right thing getting through our zone. Our rush game is better. We’re hemming teams in by doing the right things. So those are all building blocks.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken has an early story coming on Morgan Barron, who is heating up with goals in two straight games and really embracing a bigger role on the Jets. Mike will have the game analysis from the downtown rink. You can find both pieces online at winnipegfreepress.com and in Tuesday’s print edition.
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