JETS NEED THEIR BIG GUNS TO SHOW UP
Offensive output from Wheeler, Connor key to extending series against Flames
Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt your regular programming for an urgent announcement.
Paging Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor. Would you please report to the Stanley Cup qualifying series immediately?
Failure to report will lead to speedy elimination from the proceedings.
It’s one of the oldest axioms in hockey, maybe even in all of sports. Your big-time players have to make big plays in big games.
Your best have to be your best. Through three games of this all-canadian play-in series between Winnipeg and Calgary, the Jets’ best players are either nursing mystery ailments or licking their wounds from a lack of production.
Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine, of course, were felled in Game 1, at least one of them by nefarious means, if head coach Paul Maurice’s secret evidence is to be believed.
That’s a truckload of talent sitting on the sidelines.
All the more reason for the other offensive drivers to climb behind the wheel, slip this rig into gear and hit the gas.
Through three games, that hasn’t happened, and as a result the Jets are looking at Calgary tail lights and a cloud of Alberta dust, with the very real possibility of being turned into early roadkill en route to the COVID Cup. The numbers are as disturbing as a fuel gauge showing ‘E’ on a deserted highway in the middle of the night.
Wheeler has one assist, two shots on goal and a minus-4 rating.
Connor has one assist, eight shots and is a minus-2.
This, from two players who collect points in their sleep. Wheeler amassed 65 points in this shortened season, and put up 91 in each of the previous two campaigns.
Connor rolled up a team-high (tied with Scheifele) 73 points this year, and is coming off three straight seasons of 30-plus goals. Yet he’s shooting blanks against the Flames.
Scheifele’s absence on their line is a factor, obviously. But it’s not an excuse.
By contrast, Calgary’s big guns are firing. It’s not even close.
Their top line of Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm has combined for five goals and 10 points.
Even the Flames’ second line is out-producing the Jets’
No. 1 unit: Mikael Backlund, Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane have combined for four goals and eight points.
Heck, Milan Lucic has found a way to put the puck in the net.
For the Jets, people like second-liner Nik Ehlers and utility man Andrew Copp have shifted into overdrive, with two apiece.
But Adam Lowry and rookie Jansen Harkins are the only other players to score.
Joining Wheeler and Connor with goose eggs are second-line centre Cody Eakin and everybody else, including the entire blue-line.
But most conspicuous by their absence on the scoresheet are the Jets’ captain and quick-hands Connor. This despite receiving a ton of ice time.
Wheeler is clocking an average of 21:51 per game, while Connor plays a whopping 23:47.
None of the Flames’ threats have been on the ice for more than 20 minutes.
One of the reasons for the gap in production is the power play, where the big dogs are expected to eat.
The Jets have had plenty of time at that trough, more than 24 minutes compared to Calgary’s 21, making the results rather difficult to digest.
The Flames have five goals on the power play, while the Jets have just two.
Wheeler mentioned the power play difference after Tuesday’s 6-2 loss in Game 3 and touched on his lack of offensive production.
“There’s no question that Kyle and I carry the offensive burden and it’s part of our job to produce, especially in these situations,” Wheeler said.
“There’s no sidestepping that. That’s what we’re out here to do. There’s a lot more to the game than just that. Everything else is right there.
“It’s not something I’m worried about. We’re talking about guys who are predominantly point-agame players the last few seasons and the last few post-seasons. There’s no panic, there’s no worry.”
No worry? I’m not so sure. Wheeler has never been much of a playoff goal scorer, actually, finding the range just six times in 51 games. He’s been more of a setup man with 28 career assists.
Connor has just six goals in 26 career playoff games, and is still carving out his post-season reputation.
He scored three times in six playoff games last year, three times in 17 games as a rookie.
After an inconspicuous start to the series, he showed signs of coming to life in Game 3, even if Maurice thought he still wasn’t at full speed.
“They’re playing him hard, but Kyle gets that matchup every night,” the coach said. “So he’s used to it.”
If Connor finds that next gear, that can only help Wheeler.
“They just need each other,” Maurice said. “Each one brings something unique. They could do more in the offensive zone. And I’m going to expect them both to be really, really good the next game.”
They’ll have to be.
Presumably without Scheifele. What’s another of the oldest sayings in sports? Next man up.
There’s another: Excuses are for losers.
The Jets haven’t leaned on those all season, and there’s no point in starting now.
What they have to lean on is their top offensive players.