The Winnipeg Jets’ top offensive players came to play on Sunday night, as they picked up a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames. There were a few things to take away from the Jets’ third straight win, and the first win in quite some time for Eric Comrie.
Jets’ Eric Comrie snaps seven-game losing streak
Backup goaltender Eric Comrie was 0-7-1 in his last eight starts, and the Winnipeg Jets scored a combined 12 goals over those eight games. Simply put, he was getting little to no run support, and despite having above-league-average numbers.
He stopped 20/22 shots sent his way last night, making some big saves as the game progressed, as the Jets pulled away in the third period and never looked back.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
When asked how his first win since November 1 felt, he said with a smile on his face: “Probably a little different than the first three (wins). A little more relieving, I’d say. It has been a while since I won, but my game was right the whole time.”
Comrie now has a .905 save percentage on the season, which is his best mark since his 2021-22 season with the Jets.
Both Gabriel Vilarid and Scott Arniel expressed how excited the team was to get Comrie a win, and more importantly, some goals, as he had been playing well over his past couple of games but the Jets couldn’t score in front of him.
With the Jets having five games until the Four Nations Face-Off, I would imagine Comrie starts one more game before the two-week break in the middle of February.
The Jets’ power play will be a weapon in the playoff
In last year’s playoffs, we saw just how effective an elite power play can be, and how it can flip a series in an instant, no matter how the game is unfolding at five-on-five.
The Colorado Avalanche’s power play carved the Jets, and with Winnipeg having the top power play in the league continuing its hot play, they may be the ones shifting series with this weapon come playoff time.
Their power play currently sits in first place across the NHL at 33.3%. To recognize just how special that is, consider this – that would be the greatest power play in NHL history if it held until the end of the season, and yes, I know, there’s a long way to go until we have that conversation. The 2022-23 Edmonton Oilers currently hold the record at 32.4%. When they set the record, it was the highest mark since 1977-78, when the league started tracking PP%.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The Jets only had two opportunities on Sunday night, but converted on both. After the game, Vilardi pointed to the lack of opportunities with the man advantage as of late, but the ability to capitalize on the opportunities they do get.
“We’re not getting as many opportunities. I have my opinion on that,” Vilardi said. “I can’t say much about that, obviously. It’s like you’ve got to get to the hard areas, you’ve got to draw penalties. But at the same time it’s been 10 games. I don’t know. We get one power play, two power plays in a game. Yeah, we are capitalizing, though, you’re right.”
Vilardi finished the game with two goals and two assists, and one of his goals was his go-to “drop-step” move in the crease, which defenders have yet to catch on to.
The 25-year-old pending RFA is now up to 22 goals, 25 assists, and 47 points in 51 games so far this season, and continues to be a key fixture in the NHL’s best power play.
Up next:
The Jets have an exciting week ahead, starting with a matchup against the red-hot Montreal Canadiens and Patrik Laine on Tuesday night in Montreal. They will then take on the Boston Bruins on Thursday before travelling to Washington, for what could be a #1 vs. #2 matchup in the league standings on Saturday.
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