One of the worst at scoring first

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This article was published 05/03/2020 (2073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the surface, the Winnipeg Jets own some of the worst first-period scoring numbers in the NHL.

They’ve sniped 47 times in the opening 20 minutes, bettering only the hapless Detroit Red Wings (42) in that category. Meanwhile, the Jets have also allowed 61 goals in the first period, meaning they have a minus-14 goal differential in 68 regular-season games.

On the other hand, Winnipeg is plus-9 in both the second and third periods. So, what gives? 

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said the first-period issues are not being ignored nor should they be considered a crisis.

“Realistically, you don’t get to pick your best period in a game and say, ‘Why don’t you just do that for three?’” said Maurice after a Thursday morning practice as the Jets prepared for today’s home date with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“Then we’d outshoot teams 60-4 and say, ‘Well, we’re just that good.’ (It’s) probably not there. So, we’ve got inexperience on our blue-line and sometimes you… you play a month or two and you get into that rhythm and maybe it’s hard to get out of it. It’s not necessarily a terrible place for us to be. I like rhythm we’re in in terms of our periods now far more than I liked our rhythm last year.”

Most recently, the Jets have won five times in their last 10 games — scoring eight times in the first period while allowing nine in those games. Maurice doesn’t mind breaking even.

The poor first-period numbers don’t trouble centre Andrew Copp.

“It’s just one of those things — you can make any stat look good, any stat look bad,” said Copp. “Obviously, we want to come out and have a good start. It’s something we’re conscious of — we want to get off to good starts but it’s not like we’re coming out with a lack of intensity of anything like that.”

After a meaty post-Christmas schedule in which they played 15 games in February, the Jets have a slightly more relaxed schedule ahead.

They’ll play only 13 times in March with Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres being their only game in a five-day block.

On Wednesday, a scheduled workout became optional and Maurice thought his better rested players came back refreshed 24 hours later.

“They drove harder through the drills, they’re not quite as fatigued so we want to make sure they stay sharp and capture all that energy again,” he said.

Finding ways to have players performing at peak energy levels is an ongoing pursuit.

Starting this season, Maurice followed a league-wide trend and made morning skates on game days optional. Opinions on the effectiveness of morning skates are usually split between younger and more veteran players.

Twelve-year pro Mathieu Perreault, now 32, prefers to save his energy and stays off his skates during game-day workouts, while Copp rarely skips a chance to get on the ice.

“We’re professional athletes,” explained Copp. “It’s not taxing. If you’re sick or really drained from the schedule or whatever, I understand that part. Every guy’s different but I like doing it. I like feeling the puck in the morning. I like working on my game… I’m 25, I’ve got a lot of energy.”

REINFORCEMENTS COMING

Forwards Perreault and Adam Lowry were both wearing regular practice jerseys Thursday, signalling a possible end to their stints on injured reserve.

Perreault, who hasn’t played since Jan. 31 with an upper-body ailment, will likely be the first to see duty and could play against the Golden Knights.

“I’m ready,” said Perreault. “I’m definitely available. It’s just a matter of how coach wants to do things moving forward.”

Lowry (upper body) hasn’t dressed since Jan. 19.

JETS, MOOSE HOST GENDER-EQUALITY EVENTS

The Jets and AHL’s Manitoba Moose will be hosting their inaugural gender-equality games today and Saturday.

It’s all part of the NHL’s “This is Hockey” program, which is intended to promote diversity and inclusiveness in hockey.

Four local role models — True North Sports + Entertainment senior vice-president Norva Riddell, Finnish Olympian Venla Hovi, TSN reporter Sara Orlesky and Canadian Olympian Sami Jo Small — have been chosen by the Jets to participate in a gender-equality panel prior to the Moose game at Bell MTS Place Saturday night.

Members of the panel, moderated by TSN’s Dennis Beyak, are expected to share some of their experiences in the game with invited guests, which will include female sports teams and groups.

The weekend’s events are staged in advance of International Women’s Day on Sunday.

VEGAS ON A ROLL

The installation of DeBoer as head coach, replacing the fired Gerard Gallant on Jan. 15, has worked wonders for the Golden Knights.

Vegas entered today’s game in Winnipeg on a serious heater with victories in nine of its last nine games to push the club to the top of the Pacific Division.

“I don’t know what they can say about the change,” said Jets head coach Maurice, an old friend of DeBoer’s. “They had a pretty good plan of success, lots of confidence with the puck and I don’t know if boredom is the right word, but these guys got back to fast. Playing the game they played a couple of years ago.”

Winnipeg centre Copp said the Knights look much like the team that beat the Jets in the Western Conference final two years ago.

“They’re pretty similar,” said Copp. “They’re fast, they’re skilled. They’ve got a heavy D back there, for the most part. They have (Shea) Theodore and (Nate) Schmidt who can really skate and they’ve added (Alec) Martinez, whose a really good skater. McNabb defends well.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14