Copp has breakout performance

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This article was published 26/01/2021 (1686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Andrew Copp ended the final seconds of his media availability early Tuesday afternoon with a simple message.

He had been riding a four-game point streak heading into Tuesday night’s game against the visiting Edmonton Oilers, and there was some confusion over whether the defensively gifted forward had ever displayed such a stretch of offensive prowess in his career.

Copp was reminded that he had, but it had been a few years, dating back to the 2016-2017 season. He then leaned into the microphone, almost as if to settle a score.

“Let’s make it five tonight,” he said, before exiting the room.

It took Copp just five minutes and 14 seconds to make good on his promise, evening the score at 1-1 in the first period. He followed that up with two assists and another goal to complete a four-point night, depositing the puck into an empty net to seal a 6-4 win for the Winnipeg Jets.

“We see every day the work he puts in and I’ve said it a bunch before, I think he’s extremely underrated and kind of under-appreciated. He’s one of those guys that can play in the middle, he can play on either wing, he can play on your first line, he can play penalty kill. He’s taken a period on defence a few years ago when we were in Nashville, so he’s kind of the guy that can do it all,” said forward Adam Lowry, who also extended his point streak to five games with a goal and pair of assists.

“And I think we’ve always known that kind of offence is there and given that opportunity to play with two great players in (Paul Stastny) and (Nikolaj Ehlers) he’s really taken advantage of that opportunity. I couldn’t be happier for a guy like that and what a game he had here tonight.”

The trio of Copp, Stastny and Ehlers have been a lightning rod on offence for the Jets ever since they were united late in a 4-3 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 9. Copp set up Ehlers for the game-winning goal in extra time.

Heading into Tuesday night, the line had collected 15 points over parts of four games. Against the Oilers, the group combined for 10 points, with Stastny (one goal, one assist) and Ehlers (one goal, three assists) also helping fill the score sheet.

“We’re reading off of each other well. Stastny is so consistent and he’s so smart and he goes to the right areas every time. And Nikky is doing that and then he’s using his speed and being dynamic too, which, especially on the breakout, it’s huge for us. Especially when he supports the puck,” Copp said. “And you saw on Nikky’s goal what happens when he uses his speed. The defence all went with him. Stastny went to the right area on the weak side. And then it’s easy for me when I see what the defence are doing, I see all that open ice, and I see my linemate playing in the perfect spot and it makes that pass so much easier. It’s just kind of a theme, I guess. That play is a general theme of how we’ve done and when we’ve gotten to those areas, we’ve gotten to the net hard, we’ve put the puck in the net on our opportunities and have been able to change some games for us.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice has liked what he’s seen from Copp, Stastny and Ehlers. He has the group in the No. 2 hole, behind the top line of Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

With the acquisition of centre Pierre-Luc Dubois, the plan appeared to be that he would take over the second line. That doesn’t seem so obvious now.

“Both Paul and Andrew came into this league with a really strong defensive concept, they’re in the right spots in the defensive zone. They don’t stretch the game out until they need to. And Nikolaj, a big part of what’s going on with him is he skates like a shooter now. So he’s not looking to defer to the centre-iceman or to defer to his scoring winger, he’s looking to be the shooter, so he’ll move to holes to shoot the puck,” Maurice said.

“They start together and then Nikolaj’s speed becomes a real weapon for them. There’s always a 10-foot pass that is available. They’ll make that play, they don’t try and put a lot of pucks rink-wide unless Nikolaj has got speed. So really good puck support and there’s a simplicity to their game that allows them to execute those plays.”

Stastny has also hit his groove after a start that saw him get quality scoring chances but no results. He has four points in his last two games after none in his first four. Ehlers has been especially hot, with 11 points — five goals, six assists — tied with the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl for second most in the NHL.

“I’ve always felt like I’m a confident guy out there. Obviously there are games where it’s not going the right way. I know what I can bring to this team. Sometimes you have to find different ways to bring something to the team,” he said. “Either way I’ve been able to do that. I feel very good right now, my legs are working, my linemates are playing great. I think we all feel pretty good about the start to the season. Now it’s a matter of putting a full 60 (minutes) together and giving ourselves a better chance to win.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton