Jets not panicking after loss

ST. PAUL., Minnesota — Connor Hellebuyck took his time removing his equipment following the Winnipeg Jets’ optional practice Monday, talking and laughing with fellow goaltenders Steve Mason and Jamie Phillips.

Hellebuyck, a third-year pro with no previous playoff experience, wasn’t showing any negative signs about being pulled from the Jets’ 6-2 post-season loss to the Minnesota Wild. And don’t expect any panic desperation or frustration from Winnipeg when it resumes the best-of-seven, opening-round series tonight.

“It’s just the drive we have in this room,” defenceman Ben Chiarot said. “No one likes losing but in this room we take it very seriously, especially come playoff time. We’ll come out hot in Game 4.”

Despite its youth. Winnipeg showed a knack for bouncing back quickly this season. The Jets, who entered the postseason with 11 wins in their final 12 regular-season games, last experienced consecutive losses March 13-15 and have lost back-to-back games just three times since January.

“They have a real clear idea of what their game looks like when it’s right, and the ability to get back to it quickly,” coach Paul Maurice said. “You could see it from the bench and you clearly could see it from upstairs, that wasn’t the way we play when we’re at our best.

“So, we have a real clean understanding of what it is we do well and what we need to have happen. So, we can get back to it pretty quickly.”

Since Maurice turned to Hellebuyck heavily in November when Mason dealt with an injury, Hellebuyck has lost consecutive starts just five times.