Improved special teams big part of recent success

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This article was published 03/12/2017 (2836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets’ most recent victory provided some special times for their special-teams units.

Winnipeg’s power play and penalty kill jumped in the overall rankings after stellar performances in the club’s 7-4 victory over the Golden Knights.

After erasing five man-advantage situations for Vegas, Winnipeg’s penalty killers now have a 78.7 per cent efficiency rating, good enough for 19th in the NHL. But that’s four spots up from where they were Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the power play continues to produce at a torrid pace and moved up two spots to fourth-best in the league (25.6 per cent) and No. 2-ranked on home ice (32.6). Tyler Myers, Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine scored as the Jets finished 3-for-5 with the Golden Knights short-handed.

Talented and versatile centre Mark Scheifele said Saturday improved special-teams play has been a big factor in the team’s ascent in the standings.

“When you’re scoring on the PP and you’re stopping the other teams on the PK, you are going to be successful,” Scheifele said. “In today’s game, there’s a lot of the game that’s going to be played either a man up or a man down, and when you’re successful in those areas, you’re going to get a leg up on the opponent.”

He leads the Jets with 13 goals and 32 points, totals bolstered considerably by five tallies and 12 points with his club enjoying the man advantage.

Scheifele also played more than two minutes with Winnipeg down a man, blocking a shot during a critical kill in the final period with Vegas pressing.

“I haven’t killed a lot in this league and this year I’ve gotten that opportunity. It’s a huge honour to be out there to keep some pucks out when they’ve got a man up,” he said. “Everyone has to block shots. There has to be sacrifice in this game. To be a successful team, you need everyone sacrificing, whether it’s taking a hit, making a hit, blocking a shot, whatever it is. That comes with the territory.”

Hendricks making a difference

The signing of veteran centre Matt Hendricks raised some eyebrows late in the summer.

He’d just turned 36, played only half the time in Edmonton last season and looked to be on the tail end of a long pro career that began 13 year ago with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

But the product of Blaine, Minn., has been a key ingredient to the Jets’ mix this season as the club sits perched atop the Western Conference standings.

He scored a huge goal against Vegas to even the game at 2-2 with under seven minutes left in the second period, but his importance to the team won’t be judged in numbers.

Hendricks took a skate blade to the side of his face earlier in the period and, fortunately, returned with a small gash that didn’t require stitches. His first shift back, he deflected away a couple of point drives while killing a penalty, and a shift or two after that, he broke down the right side and fired a laser beam to the far top corner that beat goalie Maxime Lagace.

The 10-year NHL veteran, a gritty fourth-liner, now has three goals and three assists in 19 games.

Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice said Hendricks’ major contribution, on the ice and off, has surprised no one within the organization.

“It’s his reputation. He’s done this everywhere he’s been since his first time in the NHL, and we really felt that it could be a benefit for us,” Maurice said.

“Our top six (forward group) was young, but our bottom six was as well. There’s a mentorship there. He’s had a big impact with that kind of style.

“There wouldn’t be a guy in that room that wouldn’t tell you how important Matt Hendricks’ role is and what he’s done for our team. Because of that, we’re hopeful that all the other players in that role see a value to what they do, above and beyond the stats, the goals and assists.

“You can’t compare apples to oranges, and a hockey team has to have both. You can’t win with only one style of player.”

 

Home winning streak on the line

The Jets had a relatively relaxing Saturday, with some off-ice meetings and media availability. But the club returns to the ice on Sunday when the Ottawa Senators visit. Game time is 6 p.m.

The Jets have won five straight games at Bell MTS Place and are unbeaten in regulation in their last nine games at home (8-0-1).

Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal, his fourth straight.

Hellebuyck’s individual statistics sparkle. He is 14-2-3 this season, with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage.

Meanwhile, injured goalie Steve Mason, out with a concussion, took a light skate Saturday and will accompany the Jets on next week’s three-game road trip. Winnipeg battles the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and then plays two in Florida — Thursday in Sunrise against the Panthers and Saturday in Tampa Bay against the Lightning.

The Senators (9-9-6) visit Bell MTS Place after pulling off a rare explosion of offence Friday night, posting a wild 6-5 triumph over the host New York Islanders.

Ryan Dzingel’s second goal of the game, a power-play tally early in the third period, snapped a 5-5 tie and the Senators ended an ugly seven-game losing streak. Ottawa rookie defenceman Thomas Chabot scored his first career NHL goal in the second period to even the score at 4-4.

During their 0-6-1 slide from Nov. 16-29, the Senators scored just nine goals.

Mark Stone, 25, a Winnipegger and former Brandon Wheat Kings forward, has only two goals in his last eight contests, but still leads Ottawa with 14 goals and 25 points.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell