WINNIPEG - The Jets return home for a Saturday afternoon matchup with the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes. Winnipeg is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss in Chicago on Thursday night and have now collected a point in six of seven games to open the season.
The Jets are ready for one of their toughest challenges early on this season knowing that they have to be prepared right from the time the puck drops.
“We’ve been seeing it in our first six games here and we’re going to see it again (on Saturday) here,” said head coach Scott Arniel.
“For us, it’s knowing that the pressure is coming and making sure that we’re clean with our exits and fast with our exits. It took us a period against Minnesota and (Thursday) night, it took us a little bit – after all of the penalties – to get going.”
Slow starts have been hurting the Jets their last two games as Arniel mentioned, they were the better team over the final 40 minutes against the Wild and Blackhawks.
“Hopefully we have a better start. I think this team forces you to play a certain way and be ready, otherwise it can get out of hand pretty fast,” said Dylan DeMelo.
“So, yeah, we should be ready to go tomorrow and looking forward to a tough test against the defending champs.”
The penalty kill has gotten off to a strong start, despite allowing a goal in the first period in Chicago. It ranks ninth in the NHL, while opposing power plays have managed just two goals through the first six games.
“I still don't think we have it nailed down yet, to be honest,” said DeMelo.
“And obviously, the results have been there, which is great, but I still think there's another level we can get to with it. I think guys have taken a lot of pride in that. A lot of guys just play PK, not a lot of power play.”
WinnipegwasshorthandedfourtimesonThursday,butoverall,theJetshavedoneagoodjobofstayingoutofthepenaltybox.They’vebeenshorthandedjust17timesthisseason,thefewestintheNHL.Their2.43timesshorthandedpergameisalsotiedforthelowestmarkintheleague,whiletheir53penaltyminutesrankthird-lowest(throughOct.15).
Forthesecondstraightgame,theJetsgotsomescoringfromoutsidetheirtopline,withAlexIafallofindingthebackofthenet.Therearesomeencouragingsignsfromthesecondline,too,asViggoBjörckgetssettoplayhisseventhNHLgamethisafternoon.He’sstartingtobuildsomechemistrywithGabeVilardi,andthatconnectionlookstobegettingbetterwitheachgame.
“To me, (Thursday), that was crazy. Nino had seven shots, Gabe had four or whatever it was. They had looks. If they can spend that much time in that offensive zone, that’s the positive,” said Arniel.
“It throws me back to two years ago, when it was Vladdy (Namestnikov), (Nikolaj) Ehlers and (Cole) Perfetti. The same type of things. (After) 10 games, they weren’t getting a sniff and then all of a sudden ... .But they were spending a lot of time in the opposition end.”
Puck drop is scheduled for 2:30 PM CT.
