When the going gets tough, Blake Wheeler gets going. Midway through the season, the Winnipeg Jets are flying below expectations after last year’s surprising run. There have been plenty of distractions both on and off the ice including contract and trade talks, and an ex-Jet making his return but Wheeler has kept his focus on winning games. Jets fans have asked for more leadership and Wheeler has provided it during a tough stretch.
After falling to the Anaheim Ducks 4-1, Winnipeg played their fourth of five road games in the Music City. Drew Stafford scored twice on the powerplay helping the Jets play a number on the Nashville Predators 4-1. Connor Hellebuyck had a busy night stopping 43 of 44 shots in the victory.
Winnipeg ended their road trip in the Lone Star state taking on the Dallas Stars and the league’s best offense. The Jets managed to hold the Stars to just a Tyler Seguin goal in regulation. Mathieu Perreault tallied for the Jets in the second period to tie the game up and after that, Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen and Jets Connor Hellebuyck duelled towards a shoot out. Tyler Seguin and Patrick Sharp scored for the Stars in the shootout and Lehtonen stopped two of the Jets three shooters to seal a 2-1 win.
The Jets returned home to open up a three game home stand against the ex-Jet Evander Kane and the Buffalo Sabres. While the Jets fan’s minds were on heckling and booing Kane dressed in track suits, the Sabres focus was strictly on winning the game. Sam Reinhart scored his first career hat trick leading the Sabres to a 4-2 win. Wheeler and Perreault scored for the Jets in the loss which kept them at the bottom of the Central Division standings.
The surging San Jose Sharks continued their winning streak at the expense of the Jets. Joe Pavelski scored a goal and an assist to lead the Sharks to a 4-1 win but it wasn’t without controversy. With the Sharks leading 2-1 late in the third period, Tyler Myers was assessed a cross checking major. Playing shorthanded, Wheeler rushed for the puck and scored on a wrap around to tie the game up but was called off due to a trip on Sharks goalie Alex Stalock. Wheeler and the entire MTS Centre was livid and could only watch the Sharks add two more goals to seal the win. The following day at practice, Wheeler called upon his teammates to regain focus and intensity.
“Seeing one of your teammates lay it on the line and maybe get out of his comfort zone and do a little more than what you expect out of him, that would fire me up,” Wheeler told Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press. “That would get our group fired up. I think our actions need to speak more than what we’ve been saying in the dressing room.”
Wheeler was heard loud and clear. The Jets hosted the Nashville Predators and their leaders stepped up in a big way. Dustin Byfuglien scored twice, Andrew Ladd assisted on three goals, and Blake Wheeler capped it off with an overtime winner to get the Jets back on track with a 5-4 victory.
The Jets had no time to enjoy their victory as they headed south to take on the Minnesota Wild. Wheeler scored just 3:07 into the game in his home state and that was all the Jets needed to beat the Wild 1-0. Hellebuyck stopped all 24 shots for his second career shutout.
The Jets returned home for a clash with the Colorado Avalanche to start their six game home stand. Avs Carl Soderberg scored a goal and an assist and Semyon Varlamov held off a late Jets rally stopping 36 of 37 shots in a 2-1 victory. Joel Armia scored late in the third period and Blake Wheeler had a game high 10 shots. The win put the Avs 4 points up on the Jets.
The Winnipeg Jets (21-22-3) play their second of six home games against the Nashville Predators who sit two points ahead in the standings.
Photos by Star Roxas and Ron Cantiveros | Filipino Journal
