How Jets are making a good case as Stanley Cup favourites
A 4-0 win over the Stars on Thursday all but locked up the Central Division for Winnipeg, which now needs just one point through its next three games to officially clinch. Jacob Stoller breaks down how it happened.
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The Dallas Stars had been barking at their doorstep for a few weeks now.
On Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets kicked them off the porch.
A 4-0 win over the Stars all but locked up first place in the Central Division for Winnipeg, which now needs just one point through its next three games to officially clinch.
And above all, that game reaffirmed the quiet part out loud. The prevailing thought amongst Winnipeggers that most are afraid to say for fear of getting hurt:
This team might actually be able to win a Stanley Cup.
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Laugh all you want. Roll your eyes. Cite how you’ve seen this song and dance before, like when the Jets posted consecutive shutouts against the Stars and Colorado Avalanche at the tail end of last season before the latter pummeled them in the playoffs.
Yeah, the playoffs are a different animal. But the same can be said about these Jets, who have been striving for Game 83 since the drop of the puck back in October.
Smothering Dallas the way they did was the culmination of a season in which this team has not only consistently risen to the occasion but also grown into its own skin as the hard-nosed, stingy defensive team they’ve strived to be the last three years.
Winnipeg held the Stars to just seven high-danger shot attempts all game. The Jets recorded 44 hits — all but four of came through the first 40 minutes — and got in the grill of Dallas’ stars, delivering five hits to both Mikko Rantanen and Thomas Harley, respectively.
“I think that has a lot to do with the guys (recognizing) what’s still at stake here for us,” Jets coach Scott Arniel told reporters. “Dallas is a big team. They’re a great-skating team. If you don’t run into them, they’re going to make plays.”
Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston, two of the league’s most dangerous scorers, were hardly visible. And even in a game where they had the puck on their sticks most of the night — controlling the shot attempt and quality share by a sizable margin — the Jets somehow generated more blocks (15-10) and hits (44-27) than their opponent.
“It takes a lot of mental strength and perseverance for our team to play that game,” Kyle Connor told reporters post-game. “We celebrate the little things. That’s what we do well. We’re picking each other up, whether it’s a board battle, a backcheck, (Adam Lowry) has great back pressure on the wall and turns (the puck) over. Those are the things that we keep harping on and we keep doing. It frustrates teams.”
Focusing on the little things has led to these big things.
“We clinched a playoff spot and right now, we’re chasing the top spot. That’s our goal. To try and get home ice throughout the whole playoffs,” Connor said. “It could be the difference down the stretch. You never know, especially the way our fans come out. We love playing in front of them.”
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Connor Hartebuyck
As much as it’s become evident that Connor Hellebuyck is going to win the Vezina Trophy, the same should be said about the Hart Trophy.
Not only is Hellebuyck leading virtually every single goalie metric — basic or advanced — but he’s creeping up on league records, too. On Thursday, he became the seventh goalie in NHL history to record a 45-win season and if he maintains his 1.99 goals-against average, he’d become the second goalie in NHL history to put up 45 wins and a sub-2.00 GAA, as per SN Stats.
“The way he’s always figuring out ways to improve his game is incredible,” Josh Morrissey told reporters. “Even in the last few years, you think, ‘Man, I don’t know if this guy can get any better’ and he finds a way to.”
Crazy Hellebuyck stat: he’s recorded more shutouts (eight) than 27 NHL teams.
Stoller says
• No surprise that Nikolaj Ehlers dropped the mitts in the wake of a gloved sucker punch from Sam Steel. Not only was that cheap shot unwarranted but Ehlers never hesitates to stand up for himself, having challenged the likes of Brayden Schenn, Brad Marchand, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf over his career.
• Brilliant effort Thursday by Lowry, who recorded one primary assist, six hits, two blocks and went 11-for-16 in the faceoff dot. The Jets captain always seems to raise his game in these types of divisional high-stakes games.
