National Post (National Edition)
Jets believe they’ve found right template
Winnipeg finally has some steady goaltending
PHILADELPHIA • Well, it appears the identity crisis is a thing of the past for the Winnipeg Jets.
OK, it wasn’t actually a crisis, but there were several questions swirling around the team about how long it might take for them to establish a template to become successful over the long run.
Even in the early stages of the season, it had become apparent the infusion of youth and skill would make this edition of the Jets a fun team to watch.
That on occasion, this group would be able to lean on its speed and outscore some of its blemishes.
It was easy to see there would be some work required in terms of making a commitment in the defensive zone, even if the Jets were doing a better job of limiting the odd-man rushes and red-zone chances that hurt them last season.
As has been the case since the Jets returned in the fall of 2011, above-average goaltending was going to be required to put this team into contention and there wasn’t enough stellar play between the pipes through the first eight games, as head coach Paul Maurice mostly ran with a rotation.
But as the calendar flipped to November, it was as though the light bulb truly went on for the Jets.
The goaltending has been vastly improved, with Connor Hellebuyck taking the ball and running with it as he’s getting set to make a sixth start in the past seven games when the Jets open a season-long five-game road trip in Philadelphia against the Flyers on Thursday.
Getting more timely saves and allowing fewer soft goals is a big reason the Jets have been able to collect points in five consecutive games (4-01) to improve to 9-7-2, which leaves them in second place in the Central Division, just four points behind the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks got a close look at the Jets’ new and improved formula for success on Tuesday, a 4-0 win for the Jets that featured rock-solid goaltending (27 saves from Hellebuyck for his third NHL shutout), strong defensive play, smart penalty killing (including a five-on-three that lasted 67 seconds) and some impressive offensive output (which featured four goals on 22 shots to chase Corey Crawford).
Several Jets players called it a statement game.
“The statement is we figured it out,” said Hellebuyck. “Now we know how to play and now we know we can play (that way).” Was it a perfect game? Close but not quite, as coaches are always in search of an area which could use improvement.
The Jets had only one power play opportunity on Tuesday, though playing with the man-advantage has become more of an area of strength of late, thanks to six power play goals in the past 19 opportunities to move them into the middle of the pack.
Nine of the Jets’ 11 powerplay markers have come on the road, so soon we’ll see if that’s a trend or just an anomaly.
For the most part, the Jets have been able to find what works for them. It’s not the same identity that took them to the playoffs in 2015, but that’s by design.
Having 2016 second-overall pick Patrik Laine — who already has 12 goals and 17 points in 18 games as a rookie — fall into their lap certainly helped speed up the reloading process.
The Jets remain young, fast and hard to play against, though in a slightly different way.
They’re not as physical as they were down the stretch and in the opening round in the four-game sweep to the Anaheim Ducks, but their skill level is higher, they’re faster and their depth has increased dramatically — which has made them even tougher to play against.
The Jets have quickly built a belief that with this enhanced firepower, they’re never out of a game.
Being able to rally from third-period deficits will do that for you.
The Jets are committing to cleaning up the secondperiod woes which created the opportunity for several of those impressive comebacks as well.
The heavy lifting is just beginning for the Jets and the next series of lessons will come at them quickly.
Now that they’ve established a template, can they play “the right way” on a consistent basis.