The Winnipeg Jets’ highway journey got here to a disappointing finish on Sunday with a 3-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, and with it, their struggles appear to have prolonged past the journey. Regardless of a stable begin to the season, the Jets have misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games. Is the staff returning to earth after a promising begin?
Jets Struggling to Keep Momentum After Strong Begin
Connor Hellebuyck was the dropping goalie, however he nonetheless leads the NHL with 15 wins. On Sunday, the Jets struggled to include the Stars’ offense, significantly within the recreation’s later levels. This loss capped a season-long, 10-day, 5,000-mile highway journey for the Jets that noticed them go simply 2-4-0, with the shortage of momentum weighing closely on their general efficiency.
Adam Lowry’s purpose was a vibrant spot for the Jets, however the staff couldn’t discover a method to maintain tempo with the Stars. The Jets had been with out ahead Nikolaj Ehlers, who missed his first recreation of the season with an upper-body harm, additional depleting an already skinny roster.
Though Hellebuyck has been a key for the Jets, offering the staff with stability in purpose, he hasn’t been in a position to single-handedly maintain the staff aggressive throughout this stretch of poor play. The Jets have allowed three or extra targets in 4 of their final 5 video games, indicating potential defensive points. Though Hellebuyck nonetheless posts robust numbers, his once-miraculous saves appear much less frequent.
What’s Behind the Jets’ Slide?
The purpose is that the Jets’ latest struggles will not be as a result of poor goaltending. The staff’s offense has been inconsistent. The Jets have solely scored three targets of their final two video games and have lacked sustained strain. The absence of Ehlers harm. Nonetheless, even when the highest gamers like Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor are concerned, the staff isn’t capitalizing on their possibilities like they did earlier within the season. The Jets’ energy play stays an space of concern, rating close to the underside of the league in effectivity. That limits the staff’s capability to transform their possibilities.
The Jets’ latest losses mixed defensive breakdowns and a scarcity of end. Add to that the demanding schedule and mounting accidents, and it’s clear that the staff is struggling to search out its rhythm. The Jets should regroup rapidly to tug themselves out of this stoop.
What Can the Jets Do to Get Again on Monitor?
The Jets will want extra from their star gamers, together with Scheifele and Connor, to show issues round. The offensive spark has been lacking. They’ll additionally must shore up their defensive zone play, the place turnovers and breakdowns have been extra frequent. With Hellebuyck nonetheless enjoying at an elite stage, the Jets want to offer him extra help and discover methods to shut out video games with out leaving him out to dry.
With their first residence recreation since Nov. 19 arising on Tuesday in opposition to St. Louis, the Jets have an opportunity to reset and get again on observe. Nevertheless, their efficiency over the following few video games will probably be essential to sustaining their standing within the aggressive Central Division. If they will return to their earlier kind, they may very well be a staff to observe once more. But when the present development continues, they may want greater than good goaltending to get out of this funk.
Associated: Winnipeg Jets Show They’re the Class of the NHL
