Jets have no room for error

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This article was published 03/03/2022 (1287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets have won their last two games and will be looking for a third straight when they take on the Dallas Stars at Canada Life Centre Friday night.

While not an eye-popping prospect, three consecutive victories would be the longest win streak the Jets (24-21-9) have put together in more than two months. It would also be one win shy of their season-best four-game run, which they’ve done only once — back in October, during the first month of the regular season.

The Jets defeated the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday to wrap up a disappointing four-game road trip, finishing 1-2-1. They then followed that up with a victory on home ice against the Montreal Canadiens, winning 8-4 Tuesday to open four straight games at home.

“It was certainly important coming into Arizona after the Colorado game and getting back on the right track, and now it’s about stringing wins together,” Jets centre Adam Lowry said following Thursday’s practice. “We were able to do that in the last two and it’s trying to use that as a springboard.”

While the points gained against the Coyotes and Canadiens count the same as any other team, the Jets are chasing the Stars in the standings and aren’t in a position to give any up to their opponent this week. Heading into Thursday’s action, Winnipeg trailed Dallas by six points for the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference and have played one more game than the Stars.

The Jets have played the Stars three time this season, losing twice, with all three games ending in either overtime or a shootout. Winnipeg will look to not only beat the Stars, but also be sure Dallas doesn’t collect a point from extending the game into extra time.

That’s how desperate the Jets need to be right now. With the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lighting also on tap this week — two teams that are well positioned to make the playoffs — they’ll need to continue their winning ways Friday to take off any additional pressure from an important homestand.

“We know how important the points are against Dallas and another divisional game against a team that’s in the wild-card right now, and a team that we’re chasing and we’re going to have to pass if we’re going to get in,” added Lowry. “We let a couple slip away down there, so it’s important that to use these swings to your advantage, you come out the right way and have similar starts like we had in the last two games.” While the Jets had started strong against the Coyotes and Canadiens, they were far from masterpieces.

Winnipeg surrendered two one-goal leads against Arizona, and even trailed 3-2 in the third period before rallying to win 5-3. Against the Canadiens, the Jets rocketed out of the gate, taking a 4-0 edge before Montreal evened the score early in the second. Winnipeg wound up winning 8-4, becoming the first team in NHL history to relinquish a four-goal lead, only to then win by four goals.

Interim head coach Dave Lowry was asked if he felt confident with the Jets play of late, given the stiffer competition that lies ahead.

“I like the way we’re playing,” coach Lowry said. “Obviously, there are things you don’t like, but you learn from that, and you move forward.”

A big part of the Jets recent success has been their play on special teams. While the power play has helped, especially against the Canadiens, where the Jets finished 4-for-6 with the man advantage, there’s been a particular improvement on the penalty kill in recent games. Ranked among the worst units in the NHL for some time, the Jets PK has moved up, albeit only slightly, to 23rd of 32 teams.

That minor jump in rankings speaks to how many issues Winnipeg had killing penalties, but over the last four games it has allowed just one goal in 15 opportunities. With Adam Lowry also chipping in a shorthanded goal.

“Don’t jinx us, please,” Adam Lowry joked. “We’re quicker in our reads right now. You kind of get shelled a little bit earlier in the season and confidence is real fragile and now you’re going out there hoping to not give one up. And you give one up and now you’re a little more tentative in that game. We were able to string some games together and kind of start build on that.”

“Goaltending has been huge for us too, lately, and we’re getting some big saves on the PK and that really helps. Your goalie is going to be your best penalty killer and they’ve done a terrific job at that.”

The Jets will be tested against the Stars, who rank in the top-10 in the NHL on the power play with a success rate of 23.3 per cent. Winnipeg killed off all five of the Stars penalties in a 3-2 overtime loss last week.

“Biggest thing is the detail and execution. They’re reacting, they’re not thinking,” Dave Lowry said of the PK. “They know their reads and they anticipate well. Collectively, as a group, they’re dialed into what we’re asking them to do.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton