Jets soaring while Scheifele recovers from shoulder injury
The original goal for the CHICAGO Winnipeg Jets was to simply stay in the fight while Mark Scheifele was sidelined with a suspected shoulder injury.
Few could have predicted the Jets would go 5-0-1 since Scheifele crashed hard into the end boards during the second period of what proved to be a 4-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
The Jets have outscored their opponents 26-13 and connected for nine power play goals in 25 chances during that run. Scheifele was injured Dec. 27 and was expected to be on the shelf for six to eight weeks.
Jets captain Blake Wheeler has been a driving force during Scheifele’s absence, making a near-seamless transition to playing centre.
Wheeler chipped in two more assists in Tuesday’s 7-4 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and has five goals and 11 points during his seven-game point streak.
“Everyone has stepped up a little bit,” said Wheeler, who has 14 goals and 52 points in 44 games.
MR. 100
When Jets winger Patrik Laine scored for the first time in eight games Tuesday, it was his 19th goal of the season and the 100th point of his NHL career in just his 117th game.
Was Laine aware he was closing in on the century mark?
“Yes, I knew that. Hopefully, I can score a couple of more,” said Laine, who is up to 36 points in 44 games this season. “It’s a nice milestone to get. I’ll just try to get more.”
Laine, chosen second overall in the 2016 NHL draft, has 55 goals and 45 assists so far and is more than just a one-trick pony.
“It’s night and day from the start, in terms of his routes, his battle and his compete,” coach Paul Maurice said. “What we have right now, with Blake (Wheeler) playing centre there, he’s got the perfect mentor to take himself to the next level.”