The Winnipeg Jets could arguably be the surprise team of the National Hockey League this year. Over the past few years, their blue-collar approach has seen them battle for a playoff spot but landed just short of expectations. This year, they have quietly become a Central division contender and have gained the attention and respect of the entire league.
After a 5-1 demolishing of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Jets hit a brief stumbling block. Without the services of star forward Joe Thornton, the San Jose Sharks still managed to walk away from the MTS Centre with two points. With the Sharks leading 2-1 in the third period, newly acquired Jay Harrison scored for the Jets to tie the game. With time winding down, Marc-Edouard Vlasic scored with under five seconds left off a set play giving the Sharks a 3-2 win. Michael Hutchinson stopped 34 of 37 shots for Winnipeg in a losing cause.
Penalties have been the weakness for the Winnipeg Jets and the Arizona Coyotes exploited that at home. Ex-Jet Shane Doan recorded a goal and two assists on the power play and the Coyotes netminder Mike Smith saved 34 shots in a 4-1 win. Mathieu Perreault scored the lone goal for Winnipeg.
In past years, a west coast road trip spelled trouble for the Jets. Cup contenders like the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks usually added to Winnipeg’s losing streak. After dropping two straight, the Jets needed to compose themselves and salvage their three game road trip.
Matching firepower with the Los Angeles Kings is usually a recipe for disaster but the Jets did just that. Red-hot Mathieu Perreault scored a goal and an assist to give the Jets a 3-2 lead after one period. After a scoreless second, the defending champs responded with two goals to jump ahead 4-3. Zach Bogosian responded just two minutes after and tied the affair and sent the game into overtime. With overtime solving nothing, Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson made sure that no puck would pass him in a shootout. Bryan Little scored the only goal in the shootout giving his team a 5-4 victory.
On an emotional night in Anaheim, ex-Jet Teemu Selanne was honoured by the Ducks raising his number 8 into the rafters of the Honda Center. The Jets looked like they would escape California with 4 points. Winnipeg held a 4-2 lead going into the third thanks to Mark Scheifele’s goal and assist. Anaheim rallied with two third period goals and stole the extra point beating the Jets in a shootout 5-4. Rikard Rakell had a pair of goals for the Ducks.
Winnipeg returned home and bounced back in a big way. The Jets pounced on the Florida Panthers early and often. Mathieu Perreault has proven that his acquisition in the off-season was worth every penny. Perreault continued his hot streak scoring four goals in an 8-2 drubbing of the Panthers and also gave coach Paul Maurice 500 career wins. Perreault talked about his career night and the atmosphere at the MTS Centre.
“I had chills almost as I was sitting on the bench, I almost couldn’t believe it,” Perreault said. “I had a couple chances to get five goals. It was one of those crazy nights.”
Winnipeg headed to the Lonestar state to take on the Dallas Stars. Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec showed he still has some magic left in him. Pavelec was magnificent stopping 46 of 47 Stars shots leading the Jets to a 2-1 win. Evander Kane scored shorthanded in the third period that held to be the game winner.
In an another statement game, the Jets got a rare sweep of the Chicago Blackhawks in their home building. Captain Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little had a goal and an assist each powering the Jets to a 4-2 win. Hutchinson backstopped the Jets and has had the Blackhawks number all year. It wasn’t all good news. Mathieu Perreault took a cheap shot to the arm from Hawks Daniel Carcillo and will miss some time.
The Jets continued their winning ways at home and avenged their loss to the Coyotes. The Coyotes rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the third period but Pavelec turned aside all three Coyotes shooters in the shootout for the 4-3 win.
The Jets have quietly risen in the Western Conference standings and only trail the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues by two points. Winnipeg will look to extend their winning streak to five games as they welcome the Columbus Blue Jackets to the MTS Centre followed by a two game road trip to Pennsylvania to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers.
