Nicely, it’s official. With their current loss to the Avs, the Winnipeg Jets are actually on tempo to have the worst season since NHL hockey returned to the province of Manitoba in 2011. Earlier than Sunday’s motion, the True Northers are a 77 level season, which might be barely worse than the Jets’ 2015-16 marketing campaign (78 pts). That resulted in Winnipeg getting their first high 5 draft choose of their second reincarnation within the subsequent Entry Draft.
But regardless of that, the Jets are solely 5 factors again of the Western Convention’s closing wildcard spot, with two video games in hand on the San Jose Sharks. So the membership’s post-season hopes haven’t been dashed fully they usually have been taking part in higher hockey as of late (misplaced the final 3 video games by 1 aim). A kind of groups that Winnipeg (15-17-2) is battling with for a playoff berth is the Utah Mammoth (17-17-3), who they’re set to conflict with this night at 6 pm Central.
With so many negatives to give attention to this 12 months, I opted to seek for the silver linings of the Jets’ season thus far with the intention to give us slightly hope to cling to:
- Each Mark Scheifele & Kyle Connor are doing very properly offensively, regardless of the chaos surrounding them. Tied for the eleventh most factors within the league, the 2 forwards are on tempo for a career-high 100 factors as they give the impression of being to put up back-to-back level per recreation campaigns. Now some would possibly suppose due to Winnipeg’s scoring woes, the duo are getting extra taking part in time this 12 months and that has helped them pad their stats. But the truth is that solely 2 gamers with extra factors have averaged much less ice time than Scheif & KFC (the Stars’ Robertson & Rantanen).
- The opposite most typical 1st line ahead can also be having a profession season, as Gabriel Vilardi is on tempo for a 72 level marketing campaign which might simply eclipse his earlier finest mark of 61. Gabe can also be trying to set a brand new excessive in objectives this 12 months, because the winger is on tempo for 38 (prev. finest 27). At the moment tied for the fiftieth most factors, the largest asset gained within the PLD commerce is paying off for Winnipeg.
- Then there may be goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who regardless of lacking 3 weeks because of an damage, continues to be 4th within the NHL for Targets Saved Above Anticipated. His +16.78 ranking this 12 months would put him on tempo to place up a whopping +58.7 if he performed the identical variety of common season video games as final 12 months. To place that into context, Bucky had rankings of +39.59 & +33.12 in his final two Vezina successful campaigns. The star tender’s save proportion of .916% is barely decrease than anticipated (three straight seasons above .920%), but that’s in all probability extra a mirrored image of the workforce taking part in in entrance of him.
- Josh Morrissey continues to be one of many league’s higher defensemen at placing up factors, as he’s on tempo for one more 60+ pt marketing campaign (67.5). That might give the defender 4 straight seasons with greater than 60 factors.
- Honorable mentions to guys like Morgan Barron, Dylan Samberg, & Logan Stanley. The Bear has used his velocity & dimension to earn some further seems to be from the teaching employees, which he grasped with each fingers as he’s on tempo for a 30 pt marketing campaign and to set a brand new profession excessive (prev. finest 21 pts). His 6 objectives thus far even have him on tempo to pocket round 16 on the 12 months, which might set one other private finest. Sammie had the beginning of his season delayed because of damage, however that hasn’t stopped him from being the most effective Jets’ defenseman in his personal finish. As soon as once more, Dylan is above the 50% anticipated objectives mark throughout 5 on 5 play….which isn’t one thing that anybody aside from Dylan DeMelo has completed in 2025-26. Lastly, Huge Stan had scored 5 objectives in 5 NHL seasons earlier than this 12 months….and now Logan has already put 6 into the online for Winnipeg in lower than half a season. Each his 14 aim & 29 level tempo can be profession bests…..but the lumbering d-man nonetheless has points in his personal zone (43.2% On Ice Anticipated Targets at 5 on 5 for fifth finest defender on the Jets).
- Down within the minors, potential shiny spots embrace a pair of Manitoba Moose goaltenders being amongst the AHL’s high 20 goalies in each save percentages & objectives in opposition to common. Dominic DiVincentiis (.912%/2.59 GAA) and Thomas Milic (.917%/2.25 GAA) have been giving the Jets’ low scoring minor league affiliate an excellent shot at making the playoffs, as they’re comfortably sitting in third place within the Central.
- Lastly, Winnipeg’s finest wanting non-professional prospect seems to be ahead Kieron Walton. The large 6’6″ skater was coming off a 92 pt marketing campaign in 66 video games (1.39 pts/gm) with the Sudbury Wolves after being drafted by the Jets and has constructed on this in 2025-26. Regardless of his OHL membership being close to the underside of the league, Walton has excelled with a powerful 48 pts in 28 contests (1.71) and that has him tied for essentially the most factors within the junior league. Notably, the remainder of his scoring competitors are on the higher OHL groups and the hearsay mill has indicated that the massive ahead could also be on the transfer, as any squad that has championship ambitions would love so as to add his offensive. Flirting with a 50 aim tempo with the Wolves, the 19 yr outdated may add some a lot wanted scoring to Winnipeg or Manitoba subsequent 12 months.
Sufficient of attempting to pump up the True North fanbase with the few shiny spots on this nightmare season….time to get again to as we speak’s contest. Lets begin off by Winnipeg & Utah’s seasons thus far by way of ESPN‘s workforce & goaltender comparability numbers:
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Statistically, a lot of the workforce stats for Winnipeg & Utah are comparable, although the Jets have the higher powerplay and the Mammoth have been stronger when down a participant. Not many groups can have a goalie benefit in opposition to the True North franchise when Hellebuyck is on the market and as we speak’s contest isn’t any exception.
Utah lately sustained an enormous hit when star ahead Logan Cooley was injured and since he isn’t anticipated to return till early February, the Mammoth should attempt to work their manner right into a wildcard spot with out him.
The True Northers aren’t doing a pre-game skate as we speak, however we noticed the teaching employees make some alterations to the ahead traces in observe yesterday. In a transfer that I applaud however might trigger quite a lot of grief in different followers, head coach Scott Arniel has moved snake-bitten Gustav Nyquist as much as the highest line with Mark Scheifele & Kyle Connor. Including a defensively accountable winger to that duo appears like a good suggestion to me and hopefully it unlocks the offensive talents the Swede has proven up to now. That allowed the Jets to shift across the backside 9 forwards in a determined hope to search out constant secondary scoring. Right here is how PuckPedia is predicting line ups for tonight’s conflict….what do you concentrate on the alterations? Will they work? Which models will win the xG battle?
WINNIPEG JETS LINE UP
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UTAH MAMMOTH LINE UP
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Working out of issues to say…..however did discover that Winnipeg has 14 gamers of their 30’s in comparison with Utah’s 5. Extra notably, for those who eliminated the 4th ahead & third defensive pairings, the Mammoth would solely have 1. The Jets then again would nonetheless be at 9.
Youth versus expertise. That hasn’t labored out very properly for our membership this season….however right here’s hoping. Time to make some lunch and get a number of issues completed round the home earlier than the Moose recreation kicks off at 2 pm.
See you all again right here tonight for the sport……because the saying goes…distress loves firm!!
Go Winnipeg Jets!!!!!
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POST-GAME INFO
Scoring Abstract: (courtesy of ESPN)
FINAL SCORE:
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Sport Stats: (courtesy of MoneyPuck)
Anticipated Targets (all):
Anticipated Targets (5on5):
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BOJA’S Submit-Sport Ideas:
I’m formally on holidays till the New 12 months…so if I don’t get distracted, the article needs to be up to date with all of the post-game details about an hour after it concludes.
