On the eve of the Trade Deadline, the Winnipeg Jets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Here are three quick thoughts on the Jets returning to their winning ways.
The Jets’ power play is back to scoring at an elite rate
Coming off of their 2/3 performance against the New York Islanders, the Jets scored on their first two power play opportunities to kick off this game against the Flyers, jumping out to a first-period 2-0 lead.
The Jets’ league-best power play has scored on their last four opportunities and has returned to being the game-changing weapon it was before the Four Nations Face-Off break.
Then, early in the second period, Kyle Connor ripped a shot off the rush that gave Winnipeg a 3-0 lead.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
“You see it every single day in practice,” Eric Comrie said after the game. “How he works every single day. Even in the gym, I think it’s his (underrated) strength, his forearm strength, that he really can just fire that thing off really quickly. He can snap it off.”
While Winnipeg’s top line of Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi didn’t have their best night at five-on-five, the power play chipped in, and Adam Lowry got on the board from the third line. It was a strong offensive performance for Winnipeg, in front of Eric Comrie, who hardly gets any run support.
Eric Comrie provides another solid start
Eric Comrie, as he’s done all season, provided another quality start in place of Connor Hellebuyck, who will get the start tonight against the New Jersey Devils.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Comrie stopped 21/22 and had his shutout bid broken late in the third period by a Matvei Michkov wrist shot. Comrie is now holding a 7-8-1 record this season, to go along with his .914 SV% and 2.46 GAA.
Trade Deadline looms
Brock Nelson was mentioned as a potential perfect fit for the Winnipeg Jets to fill the 2C role, but he was traded to the Jets’ division rival, the Colorado Avalanche, late Thursday night.
Elliotte Freidman also reported late Thursday night that the Dallas Stars are close to acquiring Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes.
What might the Winnipeg Jets have in store? North of $12 million in deadline cap space, atop the NHL, with plenty of draft picks and prospects, and clear needs that they need to upgrade heading into the postseason. Should be a busy deadline day in Winnipeg, stay tuned to Illegalcurve.com for the latest news on the trade deadline, and follow our live tracker on all the trades happening around the league here.
