Jets fire afterburners into contention

WINNIPEG • So much for the theory the Winnipeg Jets were going to be overwhelmed by the burden of increased expectations.

After missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons, there’s little doubt the Jets knew they needed to accomplish more in 2017-18.

But when the campaign opened with blowout losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames, things had the potential to go sideways in a hurry for the Jets.

The Jets were wobbling, but they didn’t crumble.

Instead, the Jets took a collective deep breath and got to work. Fast forward roughly five weeks and the Jets find themselves with a record of 8-3-3 and 19 points.

Jets head coach Paul Mau- rice turned the crease over to Connor Hellebuyck in the third game of the season and the move was meant to provide free- agent signing Steve Mason an opportunity to step back after being bombarded in his first two starts.

Hellebuyck posted 37 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers and has stolen the No. 1 job, at least for the foreseeable future.

Outstanding goaltending masked some of the Jets deficiencies in the early going and has been paramount to their success. In the meantime, the Jets are tightening up defensively.

“You can just tell there’s a lot of confidence in here,” said Hellebuyck, who is 8- 02 with a 2.12 goals- against average and .936 save percentage. “The team chemistry is really good. Guys really like each other and they’re really buying in, doing their jobs specifically and they’re doing it very well.”

The struggling power play has been replaced by two units moving the puck around with confidence. With six goals during the past three games ( including four from the top unit and two from the second), the Jets are now pushing to get into the NHL’s top five in power-play efficiency.

Strong starts have been a staple for the Jets as well.

By outscoring their opposition 24-10 in the opening period this season, the Jets have given themselves a cushion on more nights than not. Discipline is improved, but the penalty kill is going through a rough patch and secondary scoring needs to increase.

The Jets just completed a stretch of seven games over 12 days against top-end competition and they’ve done more than just survive.

“What I like is these have been tough games and we’ve battled hard,” Maurice says. “Haven’t had control of the whole game by any means. We’re not blowing anybody out of the water, but we’re battling hard.”