The Winnipeg Jets are off to an unprecedented begin this season. After beating the Dallas Stars 4-1, the staff is the primary in NHL historical past to win 14 out of their first 15 video games. They had been initially tied with the 2007-08 Ottawa Senators for his or her 13 wins in 14 video games, however they’ve now surpassed them to make historical past.
The Stars fall to 8-5-0 with the loss, whereas the Jets enhance to 14-1-0. Let’s check out how the historic recreation went down for the Jets.
The Fourth Line Makes Their Mark within the First Interval
The primary aim of the sport was scored by Alex Iafallo on the ability play, and never too lengthy after, he tallied an help on the Jets’ second aim by Rasmus Kupari. The fourth line’s dominance on this recreation was a fantastic testomony to the staff’s general depth. Iafallo specifically made an enormous splash. In 2:24 of ice time within the first interval, he had a aim, an help, a takeaway, and three pictures.
Final season, Kupari solely had one level in 28 video games, so he’s already off to a greater begin with two factors in half as many video games. It was solely a matter of time with how properly he’s been taking part in to date. Morgan Barron is the one participant on the fourth line in search of his first aim of the season. His solely level of the season was an help within the Jets’ season opener towards the Edmonton Oilers.
The Jets’ League-Main Energy Play Continued to Dominate within the Second Interval
At 3:34 within the second interval, Vlad Namestnikov scored his fourth aim of the season with assists from Cole Perfetti and Neal Pionk. It was additionally his second level of the night time following his help on the primary aim. This marks his third multi-point recreation of the season. He had a aim and an help final week in the course of the Jets’ 7-4 win over his former staff, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and completed with 4 factors (one aim, three assists) on Oct. 18 towards the San Jose Sharks.
IN THE HISTORY BOOKS 📚 pic.twitter.com/0eLFgduPYN
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 9, 2024
The Jets’ energy play continued to excel with a aim from Nikolaj Ehlers (assisted by Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi). Iafallo’s aim tied the Colorado Avalanche for many objectives scored by a staff on the ability play, and Ehlers’ aim pushed Winnipeg into first place with 18 power-play objectives.
Connor Hellebuyck Makes Franchise Historical past within the Third Interval
Whereas Hellebuyck’s shutout streak ended, he made franchise historical past anyway. He set the file for the longest shutout streak with 191:47. Former NHL goaltender Ondrej Pavelec beforehand held the file with 187:05 in the course of the 2014-25 season. Hellebuyck is having a fantastic begin to the season with 11 wins, three shutouts, and a 1.83 goals-against common.
Associated: Connor Hellebuyck Requires Readability on Goaltender Interference Guidelines
Roope Hintz scored the Stars’ solely aim of the sport in the course of the third interval at 18:38 after chaos ensued in entrance of the web. Hellebuyck did all the things he may to cease him, however within the midst of the chaos and left with no stick, Dallas received on the board.
Jets Face a Powerful Street Forward
Whereas the Jets have already confronted (and overwhelmed) a slew of fine groups this season, the subsequent 4 video games will check their strengths and weaknesses. Winnipeg will head to the Massive Apple to face the 8-3-1 New York Rangers on Tuesday earlier than heading to Tampa to play towards the 7-6-1 Lightning on Thursday.
The true check will come towards the reigning Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, on the sixteenth and nineteenth. They’re third place within the league at 10-3-1, and back-to-back video games might preserve the Jets on their toes. The Jets are 6-0-0 towards Central Division groups, so this subsequent set of video games towards Atlantic and Metro Division groups must be attention-grabbing. Regardless, the subsequent few video games ought to convey some nice hockey because the Jets look to proceed their historic tempo.
