There was plenty of angst and anxiety in Jetsland coming out of Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to LA, as the Dallas Stars don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon in the Central Division race. Looking to bounce back from that loss, the Jets went out and did something they had not done in the regular season since the 2021-2022 season. They beat the Golden Knights.
Jets win in Vegas for first time since 2022
In a battle between the two division leaders in the Western Conference, the Jets put together a solid performance, coming away with a 4-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights.
A building that they have struggled mightily in, spanning many years. Winnipeg’s last win in the regular season against the Golden Knights, in Vegas, was January 1, 2022. T-Mobile Arena has established itself as one of the loudest arenas in the NHL in a very short time, but they had nothing to cheer for on Thursday night, as the NHL’s top defensive team shut them down for 60 minutes.
“In the first period and a half, we did a great job of limiting what we gave up,” Jets captain Adam Lowry said to reporters in Vegas post-game.
Through the first 40 minutes, the Jets had built a 3-0 lead, and they had held Vegas to just two high-danger chances and twelve shots on goal. Scott Arniel mentioned how key his team’s start was after the game.
“We knew that Vegas has been really good, especially in this building, and we needed a good start more than anything,” Arniel said. “We were a little bit slow coming out of our start in LA, I just thought tonight, all the lines, the D, everybody got running right away and when you can get up a couple goals like that, it certainly makes them change their game a little bit.”
Eric Comrie picks up a 26-save shutout
Eric Comrie secured his second shutout of the season last night, making 26 saves against the Knights for his ninth win of the season. He’s now up to a .914 SV% and 2.39 goals against average on the season.
You can visibly see how much this shutout meant not only to Comrie but to the team in front of him. Adam Lowry shared his appreciation for his netminder in the post-game: “Coms had a heck of a game, I’m really happy for him to get the shutout, and he really earned that, especially in the third.”
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Comrie made a key save off of Mark Stone in a slot shot off of the rush late in the second period when the Jets were leading 3-0. Coaches talk plenty about timely saves and had Vegas cut the lead to two heading into the third, nobody would have been surprised had they mounted a comeback.
Comrie remained poised, collected, and in position on every single shot throughout the night, and the Jets played a strong defensively sound game in front of him.
Eric Comrie also spoke after the game on the craziness of the past couple of days, as he remains on baby watch:
“My wife is due, any day, so I was trying to see if I was playing tonight or not. I had no idea if I was playing or not tonight. She could give birth any second, so I’d be on a plane back.”
Jets maintain four-point cushion over Dallas
Dallas won… again… on Thursday night, which pulled them within two points of the Jets for a short period before the Jets re-extended their lead to four.
While the Jets are focused on securing the one-seed in the Division, they are equally as focused on the process in these games, and Lowry said as much after the game.
“All year, the messaging from our room and from (Arniel) has been about the process, taking care of that, and the results will follow.”
The Jets have been getting the results since the Four Nations break, as they have posted the NHL’s sixth-best record over that time of 13-6-1.
The results have been there, and when facing quality opponents, the process has been fantastic.
Since the Four Nations break, here is where the Jets rank among some notable five-on-five percentage analytics, per Natural Stat Trick:
- Goals %: 59.70% (5th)
- Expected goals: 56.13% (2nd)
- High-danger chances: 56.82% (2nd)
- Scoring chances: 53.37% (8th)
- Shot attempts: 51.44% (10th)
The Jets have elevated their game at the time of the year that coaches and players often refer to as tougher. Over that time, they have won over Dallas, Washington, and Vegas. The other three teams that currently occupy the NHL’s league lead behind the Jets.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
This Jets team has posted a handful of statement wins over the past two weeks, the process in those games has been great, and Thursday’s win over Vegas was the latest example.
Up next
The Jets now head to Utah to take on the Hockey Club on Saturday night, wrapping up a three-game road trip. They will then return home for a one-game homestand against the red-hot St. Louis Blues, who have won their last 11 games.
Stay tuned to Illegalcurve.com for the latest Jets and Moose news through a busy weekend of hockey.
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