The Winnipeg Jets simply hold rolling, and evidently nothing can cease them but. After shedding their first recreation of the season on Oct. 28, the Jets have rattled off 4 straight wins and have moved to 12-1-0 on the yr.
Since final week’s pocket book, the Jets have performed three video games and as I alluded to, they received all of them. Their one loss appeared to kickstart a number of the different components of their recreation that weren’t fully current to begin the yr, and that ought to have all different groups anxious.
It nonetheless feels considerably surreal that the Jets have misplaced only one recreation this far into the season, however they simply hold successful. Right here’s what occurred over the previous week.
Wins Towards Columbus, Tampa Bay, and Utah
The Jets took care of enterprise after they wanted to this week, particularly after they went into Nationwide Enviornment and dealt with the Columbus Blue Jackets with ease. After bouncing again after their first loss, they continued to construct off of that and performed a really dominant recreation that was punctuated by a Nikolaj Ehlers hat trick.
They adopted up that effort by enjoying some of the entertaining video games of the season to this point, downing the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4 in a wildly entertaining recreation that had nearly all the pieces you could possibly see in a hockey recreation. This wasn’t only a massive win within the sense that they discovered a method to endure a powerful opposing assault, however was huge within the sense that they had been in a position to do it towards a really strong Lightning squad.
To cap it off they shut out the Utah Hockey Membership 3-0 of their first-ever assembly to increase their new successful streak to 4. Regardless of the win, Kyle Connor‘s 12-game level streak got here to an finish, however what a run it was. He was inches away from extending it late within the third however struck the publish.
What’s additionally positively value noting is that Nino Niederreiter suited up for his 900th recreation towards Utah, and offered two out of three targets within the recreation. His first of the sport was highlight-reel materials, stickhandling Utah goaltender Karel Vejmelka out of place earlier than burying it to make it 2-0.
Soiled frickin’ dangles boys 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/0fEEBmaMdk
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 6, 2024
Essentially the most spectacular factor about one more robust week? All three of these wins had been carried out in several methods. They dominated the Blue Jackets, had been opportunistic in a chaotic recreation towards the Lightning, and fully snuffed out any Utah assault. They’ve proven off each power they’ve over the previous a number of video games, they usually’ll want all of these on the upcoming schedule.
Energy Play (Nonetheless) Leads the League
After potting one other power-play objective towards Utah, the Jets remained atop the NHL leaderboard with a 44.4% success price on the person benefit. It continues to be some of the spectacular modifications made to the workforce after an overhaul of the teaching employees, with assistant coach Davis Payne taking up the facility play to begin the season.
Final yr, the Jets’ energy play was actually terrible at factors, with it settling in at 18.8% which was good for twenty second within the league. It’s sure to regress barely in some unspecified time in the future, however I don’t suppose anybody it might be this a lot of a turnaround originally of the season.
It has nearly acted as a cheat code by 13 video games, turning into a close to assure that they’ll at the least have a very good effort on the market. The truth that it’s practically at 50% a month into the season explains lots about how the Jets have been nearly as good as they’re, and proceed to stump groups on easy methods to sluggish them down.
Hellebuyck Making Mark Amongst US-Born Goaltenders
After recording the shutout towards Utah, Jets’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck continued to chip away on the rankings amongst US-born goaltenders, transferring into sole possession of sixth all-time with 39 shutouts and breaking a tie with Tom Barrasso.
He now sits only one again of being tied for fourth amongst American netminders, trailing John Vanbiesbrouck and Frank Brimsek who each have 40. The run Hellebuyck has been on, successfully courting again to the Jets playoff run in 2017-18 has been nothing wanting historic. In that span, Hellebuyck has received two Vezina Trophies and a William M. Jennings Trophy, and has carried an excessive amount of the Jets’ success on his again.
Associated: Connor Hellebuyck Requires Readability on Goaltender Interference Guidelines
In his profession, Hellebuyck has a 284-174-41 document with a 0.917 Save Share. His 284 victories rank seventh amongst US-born netminders.
Up Subsequent – Massive Assessments Towards Central Division Rivals
The Jets face some severe assessments arising this week, enjoying the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars at dwelling earlier than heading to face the New York Rangers on the highway. This stretch will go a protracted method to show precisely how actual the Jets’ strengths are, and a powerful stretch of video games towards three good groups will do exactly that.
That is additionally the primary time the Jets have confronted the Avalanche since they misplaced in 5 video games to them within the first spherical of the 2023-24 playoffs. The Avalanche are fairly harm in the mean time however are at all times a troublesome out no matter what their scenario is.
