Toby makes first goal count

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This article was published 10/11/2014 (4274 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — Goals have been hard to come by in the 2014-15 season for the Winnipeg Jets, just 28 in 15 games.

One by one, the team is getting some key players onto the scoresheet.

Evander Kane had his first of the season Thursday night.

Saturday, it was defenceman Toby Enstrom’s turn, and while he still doesn’t yet have his first goal as a member of the Jets, Mathieu Perreault struck in a previously scoreless shootout to provide the Jets with their latest triumph, a 2-1 road decision over the Ottawa Senators.

The win extended Winnipeg’s streak to 6-0-2 heading into Tuesday night’s game at the Bell Centre against the Montreal Canadiens.

“The team feels good right now but at the same time, we have a lot more to give here,” Enstrom said after clicking for a power-play goal on Saturday, the Jets’ only goal in the hockey portion of the game. “Every game, the last few games here, has been really tight. I feel like the whole team stays with it and we battle hard and that’s how you win hockey games.”

Tuesday, Enstrom hits the 500-game mark in his NHL career. He’s the latest member of the team to do so; Bryan Little, Mark Stuart and Jim Slater just recently passed that mark.

“It feels like a thousand almost,” Enstrom said. “No, actually time goes by quick. My time over here has been a lot of fun. There’s no secret or anything. We haven’t made the playoffs yet and that’s something we’re aiming for this year. I feel like the team is moving really good right now.”

‘I’m glad he’s shooting the puck a little bit now. He’s put up big numbers for us. He plays huge minutes. He plays against the other team’s best an awful lot’

— Jets coach Paul Maurice on defenceman Toby Enstrom’s play

He said the occasion has made him think of his first NHL game in Atlanta.

“I was nervous,” he said. “It was sold-out. But that’s a long time ago, eight years ago, and it’s in the past. I have some good memories in both Atlanta and Winnipeg and hopefully the best ones are going to come up here in Winnipeg.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Saturday he was pleased to see Enstrom finally hit the board.

“I’m glad he’s shooting the puck a little bit now,” the coach said. “He’s put up big numbers for us. He plays huge minutes. He plays against the other team’s best an awful lot.

“I think he’s really underrated as a defenceman. He’s not a big man, so he doesn’t get noticed in that fashion, but he’s a key piece for us back there.”

Goalie Ondrej Pavelec, who made 37 saves in the 65 minutes of hockey, and went six-for-six against Ottawa shooters in the penalty-shots round, also drew considerable praise. Again.

“I thought our goaltender was spectacular, especially late in the game when they had some good chances, and that settled everything down,” Maurice said.

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The Jets took Sunday as a complete day off and will get back to practice today, their first full practice since Oct. 23, according to the coach.

The team just finished playing nine games in 16 days and Maurice said it was a factor Saturday in Ottawa.

“In a tough, tough game, a grinding game. We didn’t have the same kind of speed element and we’re a fast team,” the coach said. “So it took more mental toughness to play in this game than it did against Pittsburgh. That’s the most fatigued they’ve probably been this season.

“We were dragging into town.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca