Next day takeaways: 2 thoughts as the Winnipeg Jets’ crush the New Jersey Devils 6-1

On a day full of rumours and trades around the league, the Winnipeg Jets reminded everyone that there is a reason they have the inside track on the Presidents’  Trophy through 64 games.  

The Jets picked up a dominant 6-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on the second night of a back-to-back, and there was plenty to takeaway from it. 

Brandon Tanev makes his season debut

The Winnipeg Jets traded for 33-year-old winger, Brandon Tanev, around noon central. Only a few hours later he was slotted into the Jets’ lineup on the fourth line, alongside Morgan Barron and Alex Iafallo. 

Tanev reminded Jets fans exactly what kind of player he is within his first couple of shifts. Blazing fast, a factor on every forecheck, frantic, and extremely willing to block shots and mix it up after the whistle. 

Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke to reporters in New Jersey before the game, and he noted that the speed element was a key factor in acquiring Tanev for the stretch run. 

“We have more speed. I think as you get into the playoffs that’s important,” Cheveldayoff said on the Addition of Tanev.

The other addition Winnipeg made on Friday was acquiring Luke Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Schenn is a 6’2, 220lb right-shot defenceman, who will kill penalties for the Jets and add a physical element to their third pairing.   

“We have a hardness element that we didn’t have before. We have a champion in the room that has experience that will be a voice that will help our leadership group immensely,” Cheveldayoff said about the acquisition of Luke Schenn. 

These players will have an impact on this team down the stretch. I wrote more about the Winnipeg Jets trade deadline day as a whole here. 

One thing was evident, and that was the energy that Brandon Tanev brings, shift in and shift out. He looks like a player excited to be playing for a contender, and the team he spent four seasons with early in his career. 

When asked about his return to the Jets, Tanev said “I’ve had a big smile on my face all day.”

“It’s a group I know very well, a city I know well,” Tanev said.  “They’ve had great success this year so I’m just trying to come in and do whatever I can. The team is playing some great hockey so whatever the role I need to play or do is what I’m willing to do.”

Six different goal scorers contribute to the offensive success

The Jets had six different goal-scorers in this game. Alex Iafallo, Josh Morrissey, Nikolaj Ehlers, Adam Lowry, Kyle Connor, and Cole Perfetti all got on the board. 

Every line chipped in, the power play kept rolling, and the Jets finished this East Coast back-to-back with 10 goals in six periods. 

When all four lines are rolling, the Jets are going to be extremely tough to beat down the stretch and into the playoffs. With Brandon Tanev in the mix, that could add to their bottom-six, and help add to the encouraging signs we’ve seen from the second line as of late.

Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)

In the Jets’ last 15 games, the second line of Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti has posted strong underlying numbers, according to Natural Stat Trick’s tracking. 

• Goals: 7-4 (63.64%)
• Shot attempts: 57.19%
• Expected goals percentage: 64.13%
• Scoring chances percentage: 59.18%
• High-danger chances percentage: 60.81%

They have been a strong option for Scott Arniel coming out of the break, and with Cole Perfetti playing arguably the best hockey of his career, it’s clear that this line has hit a new level. The lack of a 2C add at the trade deadline, this line will be crucial to Winnipeg’s playoff success. 

Up next

The Winnipeg Jets’ next game comes on Sunday at 4:00 PM CT against the Carolina Hurricanes, as the Jets wrap up their four-game road trip. 

They’ll then return home for a two-game homestand against the New York Rangers, and the Mikko Rantanen-led Dallas Stars. 

Be sure to tune into the Illegal Curve postgame show after every game on our YouTube channel, and stay tuned to Illegalcurve.com for the latest Jets and Moose news.