On Connor Hellebuyck‘s night inside Canada Life Centre, the Winnipeg Jets made his life easy, posting eight goals and only allowing 22 shots on goal in an 8-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.
Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti line has first great game of the 2024-25 season
The Jets were still searching for more five-on-five offence heading into Friday’s contest, with the Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti trio desperately needing a solid game offensively.
It’s safe to say that they got that game tonight, as Cole Perfetti (2G, 2A) posted a career-high four points. Vladislav Namestnikov (1G, 3A) also had four points, and Nikolaj Ehlers (2G, 1A) posted all three points in the first period. Scott Arniel was very complimentary of the line post-game after their dominant performance.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
“All three of those guys have real good skill,” Arniel said Friday night. “They compliment each other when they’re all on their game. I thought tonight was the game that all three of them were at their best. There’s been games where maybe it’s a period, one of them’s going, two of them are going, but it was never all three, and tonight it was all three right from the start.”
Coming into tonight’s game, the Jets were 32nd in expected goals for at five-on-five. They weren’t generating or scoring enough at even-strength, and while the five-on-five goal-scoring did show itself last night with four goals, the Jets also went 4/7 on the power play. That gives them a mark of 7-for-14 (50%) on the season, which is an incredible start, given how last year went for that same unit.
Cole Perfetti was on the ice for seven of the Jets’ goals tonight and was not on the ice for any of the Shark’s goals. His line also didn’t allow a shot attempt all game long, as they won that advantage 11-0 at five-on-five per Natural Stat Trick. That line didn’t just get back on track in this game, but they dominated from start to finish, not even allowing a shot attempt against while they were on the ice.
Connor Hellebuyck night was a success
The Jets held Connor Hellebuyck night inside Canada Life Centre tonight, celebrating their star netminder for winning the 2023-24 Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings trophy. He received a long standing ovation during the first period as Jets fans saluted his efforts.
While it was Hellebuyck’s night, the Jets made sure the spotlight was not on him, as they gave him plenty of goal-support and allowed just 22 shots on goal.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
“He’s the best goalie in the league,” Perfetti said post-game. “It’s a treat to have him on your team and it’s a lot of help for us. It’s nice to put up a large number for him on his night. We were due to help him out and score for him. He’s bailed us out multiple times, so it was nice to do that for him in tonight’s game.”
Hellebuyck has proven time and time again that he is one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. Jets fans have shown their appreciation for their goaltender over the years, but on this night, they were able to show it once again. He’s not only the best goaltender in the league right now, but he has a case for being one of the best goaltenders since he entered the league in 2015-16.
Now is likely a great time to remind people that Hellebuyck’s seven-year contract extension kicked in this year, so there will be plenty of more elite goaltending in Winnipeg’s future, the kind that we have all become accustomed to.
Friday night began a stretch of 12 games in 23 nights
If you were not a fan of the Jets’ four-day break, fear no longer, as they now play every other day until November 16th.
The 4-0-0 start is welcome, but banking points this early in the year before you start playing tougher competition on a more regular basis is even more welcome than any regular undefeated start.
Namestnikov was asked about the gruelling schedule ahead and admitted that they would have to take it one game at a time.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
“Yeah, the grind begins. I think we play every other day for 22 days, I think. So you got to get your rest and prepare for Pittsburgh and then kind of go from there.”
With the schedule picking up in volume, players on the outside looking in, such as David Gustafsson, Logan Stanley, and Eric Comrie, could see game action over this stretch for fresh legs, and Namestnikov echoed that the Jets depth will be prepared for the challenge.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys ready to go if needed. So we just got to stay with the process and go from there.”
Another aspect that should benefit the Jets through a compact schedule is their scoring-by-committee approach, with seven players already having four or more points through the first four games of the season. While it’s early, special teams could play a factor in bailing them out on nights where they potentially lose the five-on-five battle, which would be a stark contrast from a season ago. Regardless, the Jets beginning the season 4-0 while teams in the Central Division, such as the Nashville Predators (0-4) and Colorado Avalanche (1-4), struggle out of the gate, is about as good of a start as you could’ve drawn up.
Up next:
The Jets will wrap up their four-game homestand on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, as Bryan Little will be honoured pre-game as he is set to retire as a Winnipeg Jet. They will then hit the road for their first extended road trip of the season, as they take on the St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken, and Calgary Flames on a three-game road trip.
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