Earlier than I get to discussing the Winnipeg Jets’ upcoming recreation, I figured I might take a little bit of time to have fun simply how good our franchise has been this 12 months. And it isn’t solely this season, because the Jets have the Nationwide Hockey League’s greatest report over the previous two campaigns (107-45-10 for 224 pts).
Within the NHL’s 2024-25 season, Winnipeg are very near securing the league’s greatest report whereas being the perfect defensive squad (186 GA) and the third greatest offensive staff (274 GF, 8 behind the Capitals & Lightning). Not completed there, the True Northers are additionally battling for the perfect powerplay conversion price, trailing the Vegas Golden Knights by the smallest margin (29.1% to 29.0%). The Jets are additionally doing nicely in a few of the superior stats, with the NHL’s greatest Objectives % at 5 on 5 (59.51%), the fifth greatest xGoals % (53.27%), and the league’s greatest staff save proportion in all conditions (91.43%).
To strengthen how nicely Winnipeg has performed this season, I’ve included MoneyPuck’s Playoff Odds chart, exhibiting the highest 11 playoff groups and their likelihoods of advancing all through the playoffs. If you find yourself looking the numbers under, you may choose up that the Jets have the perfect odds to make the Stanley Cup Finals and the 2nd greatest odds to make the second spherical, the third spherical, & be the squad that will get to raise the Cup.
Now that we’ve got taken a second to benefit from the superb trip this Winnipeg Jets’ season has been, lets get again to the work the franchise has left to make it a really excellent season by happening an extended playoff run. Earlier than the Manitobans can get to that process, there are nonetheless a pair extra video games left within the common season and that brings us to the upcoming match on the Canada Life Centre versus the Edmonton Oilers.
The Jets (55-21-4) have gained their final three video games to carry off the cost from the Dallas Stars and now might be turning their minds to getting some key gamers some relaxation earlier than the post-season kicks off. That is purely hypothesis at this level, however it could appear to be a major time to provide everlasting press field resident Ville Heinola the prospect to really placed on a pair of skates on recreation day. Different common wholesome scratches like David Gustafsson also needs to get the prospect to play, however I’m not positive that there can be a big inflow of gamers from the Manitoba Moose becoming a member of in. A major prospect to get the prospect, Brad Lambert, was injured in yesterday’s AHL recreation, so appears uncertain to me for Sunday, whereas the wholesome Elias Salomonsson can be taking part in video games on three straight days if he was tapped by coach Scott Arniel. Presumably some Moose veterans like Dominic Toninato or Axel Jonsson-Fjallby might be choices, however they might be in the identical boat as younger Salomonsson for the sport towards the Oilers. I definitely don’t anticipate Nikolaj Ehlers to be on the ice tonight, as he’ll hopefully relaxation as much as be able to go for the beginning of Spherical 1. Appears like Arniel can be talking at 11 am, so we could get an replace on Fly at that time.
The Oilers (46-28-5) are coming in on a 2 recreation profitable streak and are nonetheless preventing the Los Angeles Kings for home-ice benefit within the opening spherical of the post-season. They’re removed from wholesome although, with long-term accidents like Evander Kane & John Klingberg just the start of their woes. Main scorer Leon Draisaitl has additionally been lacking from the road up, however he has loads of firm in Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Trent Frederic, Jake Walman, & Mattias Ekholm.
So with all these gamers on the mend, right here is how PuckPedia is at the moment predicting:
With so many regulars lacking from the lineup, I’m not positive this season’s stats for Winnipeg & Edmonton actually imply all that a lot, however lets test them out anyhow. At the least the knowledge from ESPN concerning the goalies will come in useful:
Was tempted to attempt giving Ville Heinola the Increase within the hopes he might work his approach out of the doghouse, however determined to concentrate on the grinders as an alternative with a pic of Brandon Tanev, Alex Iafallo, & Morgan Barron. I like how each Barron & Iafallo are smiling as they watch Tanev’s hotdog celebration.
Alright…the Winnipeg Jets haven’t been excellent in back-to-back video games this season and there actually isn’t a complete lot of motivation to play their greatest, until they’ve their hearts set on the President’s Trophy. So how do you see the sport taking part in out??? Will the True Northers “subsequent man up” angle carry them to victory over the banged up Oilers? Lets hear your ideas within the Remark part….and have an excellent day!
Go Winnipeg!!!!!!!
