The Winnipeg Jets dropped Sunday’s contest to the Dallas Stars by a score of 3-1, resulting in a 2-4-0 record on this gruelling six-game road trip and a 3-6-0 record in their last nine games.
There was plenty to take away from the Central Division showdown.
Connor Hellebuyck and Adam Lowry play strong games
The two players with the biggest impacts on today’s game were Connor Hellebuyck and Adam Lowry, and not just because Lowry scored, but also because these two players were key in the Jets’ penalty kill, going a perfect 5/5.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
In a pivotal moment of the game, the Jets were able to kill off a five-on-three. Lowry was asked about the PK and that moment, specifically after the game.
“You don’t want to be killing too many five on threes,” Lowry said. “But nice to survive it, and Helle’s got to be your best penalty killer, and he made some stellar saves. He really did a good job of swallowing up a lot of pucks, too. I think there weren’t a lot of second opportunities. (The PK) is going to be a work in progress throughout the year, and I think tonight was a step in the right direction for that.”
The Jets’ PK and Hellebuyck, kept them in this game and gave them a chance to tie it late. That’s a strong turnaround after a slow start to the season for that unit, it just so happens to come at a time when the power play is beginning to cool off.
Top line struggles on road trip
It’s clear that Mark Scheifele is playing hurt and look no further than his reluctance to take faceoffs as evidence. It hasn’t only affected his faceoff-taking abilities either, as he finished the road trip with zero goals, two assists, ten shots on goal and a -4 plus/minus rating.
Kyle Connor, the Jets’ leader in points, has gone five straight games without a goal, while linemate Gabriel Vilardi finished the trip with two goals and zero assists.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The top line got off to a slow start this season before going on an absolute tear, but with this latest six-game road trip, it’s no secret that the Jets will need their top line to be better going forward.
Undisciplined hockey halts rhythm
The Jets outshot the Stars at five-on-five in this game 25-20, out-shot-attempted them 48-40, and had the slight edge in expected goals (1.66-1.63). This was a tight game at even strength, which we’ve come to expect from these two teams.
However, far too often, the Jets’ ability to gain an offensive rhythm was halted by undisciplined penalties. Josh Morrissey took a slash, Fleury a trip, but most notably, Logan Stanley finished with three penalties in a third-pairing role.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Scott Arniel was asked about Stanley’s play after the game, here’s what he had to say.
“Yeah, he certainly has to stay out of the box,” Arniel said. “He’s not going to get any better sitting in the press box. He needs to be in our top six. He’s a big body guy. He’s got size. He’s got experience in this league. He expects more from himself, but at the same time, he’s no good sitting in the press box and trying to get better.”
This quote took many Jets fans by surprise on social media, as just 12 days ago, Arniel said that he was Heinola’s “biggest fan” while also saying, “we need to get him in our lineup.”
Stanley played just 10:56 in tonight’s game, 2:15 of which was in the third period. It’s rather telling that at the end of a gruelling six-game road trip, Arniel chose to shorten the bench in the third period and rotate his other five defencemen after Stanley’s three penalties.
It will be interesting to see if Stanley remains in the lineup on Tuesday or if they choose to go back to Heinola in that role. By Arniel’s post-game quote, it seems as though the former is more likely.
Up next
The Jets are bound to return home for a long time after this gruelling road trip, right? That is not the case, as Winnipeg returns home for a one-game home stint on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Blues before hitting the road for two more games later in the week.
Stay tuned to illegalcurve.com for all the latest about the Jets and Moose.
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