Why the Winnipeg Jets Power Play is off to a sizzling hot start in 2024-25

The Winnipeg Jets are off to an incredible 8-1-0 start to the 2024-25 season, largely due to their league-best power play. At 12/27 (44%), new PP coach Davis Payne has maximized the talents of his players thus far. 

Here’s a deeper dive into how the Jets’ new-look power play gives headaches to opposing teams and single-handedly wins them games. 

Nikolaj Ehlers is excelling in the “pop” position 

Nikolaj Ehlers had zero power-play goals in 2023-24. Zero! Yes, he played on the second unit for the entirety of the year, but for a player who played all 82 games on the power play and finished with 25 goals, that is difficult to comprehend.

This season, Payne not only has him on the top power-play unit, but he has him in an entirely different position. The “pop” position in the middle of the slot has given this Jets power play a new dynamic, with Ehlers excelling in that role.  

“He’s got world-class skill,” Payne said about Ehlers. “Obviously with his ability to operate with pace. Whether it’s to enter (the zone) with pace, whether it’s to support with pace, whether it’s to make a decision with the puck quickly, that’s the skill set that that area of the ice requires… and whether it’s a shot or whether it’s a relay to a different shot option, he’s done a real good job of that.”

Ehlers has already netted two power-play goals to begin this season and has added an assist as well. While he has quickly adapted to that area of the ice, both of his goals this season have come from different spots on the ice. 

For years, the Jets have had the talent capable of a top-10 power play unit. Ehlers always ran the second unit, but it’s clear that Payne and Scott Arniel saw potential with him in the middle of the ice. So far, so good. 

The Jets have emphasized puck and player movement

It was clear that the Jets power play in 2023-24 was far too stagnant. One of the clear differences this season is the pace at which the Jets are playing at. They are entering the zone quicker, moving themselves and the puck efficiently, throwing more pucks on net, and scoring more goals because of it. Josh Morrissey noted the change of pace when asked about the power play on Monday night. 

“I think there’s a pace that we’re playing at and executing at that we haven’t had in the past,” Morrissey said. “We’re on the same page, and we’re getting opportunities in different ways, often from down low, up top, on the flanks and the slots. We want it to be a strength of our team and something that can get us back into games and close games out, or put a game out of reach.”

On Monday against Toronto, a game that was all but out of reach, the power play brought them back into it going 2/4. Despite the incredible rate that they are scoring at with the man advantage, Payne admitted that they need to stay unpredictable going forward. 

“There’s detail pieces that need to be tightened up and need to be more efficient and need to be, just quite frankly better, in terms of us not limiting ourselves with singular options,” Payne said. “We want to be a dual threat, we want to have multiple options, so penalty can’t have that sort of anticipation of where that next play is going.”

The Jets are using their power play as a momentum-builder

One thing that a successful power play can do, even if they fail to score, is generate momentum for the team at five-on-five. This was evident in the 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames, as the Jets failed to score on a 5-on-3 late in the third period but dominated the flow of play from that point forward and won the game. 

Whatever unit goes out first, we expect some attack, and we expect some pace,” Payne said. “Sometimes it doesn’t go in, sometimes it doesn’t go your way. The second unit gets a crack at it and we expect the same sort of thing. But it’s that third shift after, a lot of times, where that group coming onto the ice after a power play now has sort of that juice and that momentum that we’ve created.”

Combining their 48% (1st) power play rate with their 88.9% (4th) penalty kill rate, it’s clear why the Jets have jumped out to a solid 8-1-0 record. Their five-on-five play has plenty of room for improvement, but simply put, special teams and goaltending are carrying this hockey club.

Heading into Wednesday night’s game against the Red Wings, the Jets will look to keep their power play clicking at full capacity by implementing the successful concepts they have put forward this season. Given that Detroit has the 30th ranked PK it could be a massive opportunity for Winnipeg to feast. 

For further analysis of the Jets special teams check out this chat we had with Coach Jon Goyens on last weekend’s IC Hockey Show.