In a do-or-die Game 5 on home ice, the Winnipeg Jets recreated Game 2 of the series, as Nikolaj Ehlers scored twice and Connor Hellebuyck posted a shutout in the Jets’ most dominant win of the playoffs to date.
There was plenty to take away from the Jets’ performance in this game as they kept their season alive.
Nikolaj Ehlers = playoff performer
Coming into this series, Nikolaj Ehlers had four goals in 39 playoff games.
He’s got five in this series alone, as he tied Kyle Connor as Jets’ top goal scorer of the postseason (5) with a two-goal effort in Game 5.
The Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti line had their best game of the series. They out-chanced the Stars 4-1 in their 5v5 minutes, Ehlers and Namestnikov both scored on the power play, and they played a strong defensive game as well, allowing just two shot attempts against at even strength.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Ehlers was asked how his play has evolved since returning from injury.
“I feel good,” Ehlers said. “Obviously there’s things that I want to clean up, too. My whole second period, for example. But I think, overall, I got my legs going and I got them going early and obviously that’s a huge part of my game. That’s something that I want to continue doing.”
The Jets got goals from their top-six and their bottom-six shut down the Stars, a formula that has worked for the majority of the season. Without the ability to control the matchups, they’ll have to bring their best for Game 6 on Saturday night.
Winnipeg’s power play shows signs of life
Coming into this game, the Jets’ top-ranked power play from the regular season needed to show up. They had their statement game, going 2-for-5, but generating momentum from the opportunities where they failed to score.
There was no better example of that than the opportunity late in the second period, when the Jets generated a plethora of high-danger looks that Jake Oettinger turned aside.
“Yeah, we had some great looks, obviously Oettinger made some big stops,” Arniel said of that power play late in the second. “Just the fact that we got in on the entries, we got in, the puck battles, the retrievals, the attacking the net, all the stuff we talk about. We did those things well, and because we did them well, we got rewarded for it.”
They even put a puck into the net on that power play, as Scheifele gloved a puck into the net that was immediately waved off, and rightfully so.
That sparked one of the better chants inside Canada Life Centre, as fans chanted “Should have kicked it!” in response to the controversial goal in Game 3 when it was ruled that Connor Hellebuyck “propelled” the puck into his net.
It was a very timely, knowledgeable chant from the fans inside the building. Everyone knows that Scheifele’s goal should not have counted, but it was still the perfect opportunity for a subtle jab at the officials.
Early in the third period, the Jets were given a 5-on-3 for 1:47. The power play needed to meet the moment, and they did. Nikolaj Ehlers stepped into the crease and beat Oettinger through the five-hole, extending Winnipeg’s lead to 2-0 at the time.
Later in the third period, Vladislav Namestnikov beat Oettinger over the shoulder for Winnipeg’s second power-play goal of the evening.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Namestnikov needed that goal, as he came into tonight’s game with just one shot on goal all series long.
Every team that has won the special teams battle in this series has won that game, and that was no different in Game 5. Winnipeg’s power play is back to looking like an elite unit, and they’ll look to continue that in Game 6.
Connor Hellebuyck shuts the door
Connor Hellebuyck’s shutout streak at home reached 143:22 last night as he blanked the Stars for the second straight home game.
A 22-save shutout highlighted by a handful of big stops on the penalty kill, which propelled the Jets to a 4-for-4 mark when short-handed in this one.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
His best save of the night, an impressive windmill save off of Thomas Harley from the slot, keeping the game at 0-0 early in the second period.
“I’m glad you brought that up, actually. That was incredible,” Lowry said on Hellebuyck’s windmill stop. “Another stellar game by him. Like you said, it’s 0-0. We have a bit of a breakdown, and we could easily be down 1-0 there. It gets the building on their feet, gives us some energy, lets us take a deep breath, and we are able to score four-on-four not too long after. We have so much confidence in Connor, what he does, what he means for our team.”
The Jets had a great first period, outshooting the Stars 11-4. They allow that goal early in the second period, and all of the momentum likely turns against them. That was a timely save, and he followed that up with many more as the Jets
Can the Jets bring this game to Dallas?
You are probably tired of hearing the stat that the Jets have lost nine consecutive playoff road games.
With their season on the line yet again, they’ll have to end that streak in Dallas in Game 6.
Adam Lowry said that there’s no better time to win a road game than on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
“It’s only one game, though. We’ve got to do the same. We’ve got to win a road game. We haven’t played well on the road at all this playoff, so no better time than now to start. Like we’ve done all year, we’re going to review this one, find the areas that we need to improve on and go and try to implement that in Game 6.”
The Jets’ power play can play a huge role yet again, but the biggest factor is Winnipeg’s MVP, Connor Hellebuyck.
His save percentage on the road in these playoffs is a dreadful, .793%. He’ll need to outduel Jake Oettinger, on the road, to give the Jets their best chance to win and bring it back to Winnipeg for Game 7.
Hellebuyck was all business in his postgame availability, focused on doing exactly that.
“Let’s just focus on Game 6. We’ve got one more game ahead of us. We’ve got to prepare the right way, get a recovery in and bring that same game.”
Up next: Game 6
Stay tuned to Illegalcurve.com for all the latest Winnipeg Jets news ahead of another do-or-die game for the Jets on Saturday evening. As always, tune into the postgame show right after the final buzzer.
