FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: While I appreciate Cheveldayoff giving his current group a vote of confidence by doing little to mess with the very good thing they have going, not adding either an impact forward or defenceman on Friday feels like a swing and a miss to me.
It’s true the Jets are a very good team, but they’re also a key injury or two away from being something very different. And when you see what potential opponents did to load up, that’s a very risky play in my eyes.
So, too, is leaving more than US $6 million in projected cap space unused. That’s a big potential weapon that was left in the holster.
To be clear, I don’t mind the two adds they did make. Not at all. Tanev and Schenn will both bring plenty of grit, energy and character, and you can never have enough of that. They just don’t necessarily move the needle in a big way.
As a result, it sure feels like first place or bust now for the Jets. Win the division and you’re likely facing one of Vancouver/Calgary/Utah/St. Louis in a favourable first-round playoff matchup. Fall to second and there’s a legit chance you have to play Colorado (considering Dallas is the only team with a realistic shot of overtaking them).
The Jets currently enjoy a six-point lead over the Stars, who have one game in hand. The two teams will also face each other two more times this year – one week from today in Winnipeg, and then Apr. 10 in Dallas. Those two tilts are likely going to be Texas-sized in terms of importance.
To be clear, every game now feels rather big, including this one against the depleted but desperate Devils.
I thought the second line of Vlad Namestnikov (whose status as the 2C now seems safe), Cole Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers had a terrific game against the Flyers despite not being rewarded with a goal or two.
“I told them we’ll just save a few for tomorrow,” Arniel said Thursday night.
“We’ll need them tomorrow. But you know what? They had the puck a lot, and you’re right, they had some great looks. (Perfetti) I think had three or four quality ones. They’re making plays, they’re supporting each other.
“I love the fact how they work together, kind of the scissor cycles, supporting each other low, and then it opened up some lanes. Hopefully tomorrow they get the same kind of looks, and they can bury them.”
KEN SAYS: After being limited to 10 goals in the previous five games (and being held to two goals or fewer in four of those outings) the Jets’ four goals on Thursday represented a bit of an offensive explosion — and return to form in many areas.
We’ve talked a lot about how many glorious scoring chances Kyle Connor generated during the seven games coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break. His speed was on full display and he ripped home a shot for his 32nd goal of the season.
The Jets’ top line did an excellent job, with Connor adding an assist, centre Mark Scheifele chipping in a goal and two helpers and Gabe Vilardi contributing three assists.
The Adam Lowry line had an identity line type of game that was accentuated with a backdoor tap-in goal from Lowry which was set up by Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter, who snapped an eight-game pointless skid.
Speaking of returning to form, the Jets power play has gone from ice cold to red-hot, converting on both opportunities with the man-advantage in the first period on Thursday. That gives them four power-play markers in the past five opportunities and bumps the league-leading percentage back up to 32 per cent.
The Devils got off to a fantastic start and are in a good position in the Metropolitan Division, but they suffered a blow earlier this week when they lost Hughes.
Jesper Bratt is tied with Hughes for the team lead in points with 70 (including 17 goals) and is having another fantastic campaign. It’s a prime time for winger Timo Meier (once a trade deadline target of the Jets) to elevate his game, as he has 17 goals and 41 points in 71 games this season.
Speaking of the Devils, former Jets blue-liner Brenden Dillon earned high praise from head coach Sheldon Keefe when asked about him after an optional morning skate.
The Jets definitely miss Dillon’s presence on the blue line and it’s no surprise he’s been a great fit with the Devils.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Barron-Gustafsson-Iafallo
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Stanley-Miller
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Fleury, D Heinola, F Tanev (game-time decision)
INJURED/OUT: C Kupari (concussion), D Schenn (not joining the team until next week)
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
FORWARDS:
- Meier-Hischier-Bratt
- Palat-Mercer-Tatar
- Dowling-Haula-Noesen
- Cotter-Lazar-Bastian
DEFENCE:
- L. Hughes-Pesce
- Dillon-Nemec
- Dumoulin-Kovacevic
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: LW MacDermid, D Casey
INJURED/OUT: C Hughes (shoulder), D Hamilton (lower-body), D Siegenthaler (lower-body), C Glass (obtained in trade Friday), F Sprong (obtained in a trade Friday)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on his club scoring two power-play goals for a second straight game following an 0-for-17 stretch:
“We actually went back, we’re looking at the numbers and the chances and the opportunities. They were still high and they weren’t going in.
“Like I talked about, this sort of stretch, we’re doing a lot of good things, and that’s what I like, the fact that we just continue to stay with the attack.
“The things that we stress, the attack, the retrievals, the support, and Scheif’s first goal was a great example of that, shot with crashing the net, and then obviously the next one, puck movement, then fly, taking it to the net. So lots of good things that helps you have success.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken is on scene in Newark and will tag-team with Mike for a trade deadline story, which will include on-scene comments from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and coach Scott Arniel.
He’ll also have game analysis of Jets vs. Devils from Prudential Center. You can find both pieces online tonight and in Saturday’s print edition.
|
