Jets confident in their game ahead of three-game road trip

WINNIPEG - Even if the Winnipeg Jets have only four goals in the last three games, head coach Paul Maurice's message to his team is simple.
"Move away from whether you're putting pucks in the net or not. We're getting more chances than the other team, so that's a really good thing," Maurice said. "We've played hard and well, and there are pieces of our game - our exits and breakouts - have never been better."
There are certain stats that the Jets track that are kept top secret, but the numbers publicly available would back up that claim.
The one Maurice referenced on Tuesday, roughly 12 hours after the Jets dropped a 3-1 decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Canada Life Centre, is a term called expected goals.

Expected goals weigh each unblocked shot attempt for several factors. Shot location is important, but so are factors such as rebounds and rush chances. A value is then assigned to each shot - a point shot would be valued less than a rebound chance right in front of the net, for example.

In the last two weeks, Natural Stat Trick has computed that the Jets have won the expected goals battle in five of the seven games.
The two they lost came against the Penguins and the shootout setback in Edmonton.
Those calculations also mean that other defeats (like against the St. Louis Blues and the Vancouver Canucks) were tilted in the Jets favour.
Real goals that go up on the scoreboard matter the most, for sure. But the expected goals statistic is the best tracker of which team is getting the better chances, more often, on any given night.
It's also why Maurice is happy with the way his team has been performing.
"Our second best expected goals for even strength was in Vancouver. We generated a lot," Maurice said. "I think we're actually playing our best hockey right now. I'm not waiting for something to break loose where things are going to get way better."

His message is getting across. Both Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois feel the same way about how the Jets are playing.
In terms of what improvements they'd like to see as the team embarks on a three-game road trip, Scheifele would like to see the Jets generate more offensive zone time.
"It's about quality of chances and getting that sustained pressure where you're able to wear teams down," Scheifele said. "t's a matter of figuring that out and finding that common ground between both. When you get those quality chances, bearing down and making sure they go in the back of the net. It's something we'll have to look at and hope to get some more action tomorrow."
The game changes as the season goes on as well.
What works in October doesn't necessarily translate to April.
That's why Dubois and the Jets are focusing on their process, and finding ways to be a team that can win games in different ways.
"To expect to score three goals every game is unrealistic. There are going to be times when maybe you have talent, but it's not going in," said Dubois. "The defencemen we have here this year, the forward group, and the goalies, when it's a defensive game we want to be in it. If we have to score five, we want to be in that one too. If it's physical and just forechecking, we can do that. It takes time to figure it all out."

It's the second time this season that the Jets have been winless in three games.
The first time it happened at the start of the season, they rattled off four straight victories and went on a 9-1-2 tear.
"You know there are going to be ups and downs in the season," said Scheifele. "It's just a matter of trying to be consistent with it. Not allowing those down times to be too long and not getting too high when things are good. It's a matter of continuing to find our game and find that chemistry, and go from there."
Maurice remains confident in his group as they begin a three-game road trip with stops in Columbus, Minnesota, and Calgary.
"It'll sound dangerous because you haven't won in your last three," Maurice stated. "But historically, I've liked those two Edmonton games and where we were at in the Vancouver game as much as I've liked a run of regular season games as much as I can remember."
ICE CHIPS
While the Jets didn't hold a formal practice on Tuesday, Paul Stastny skated again as he continues to work his way back from a foot injury he suffered on Nov. 6.
"He's coming on the trip, so I think we'll see him at some point on this trip," said Maurice, adding that Stastny can help the Jets in all areas, including special teams.
"Paul makes a lot of really small area plays that are good, that everybody on the bench recognizes," Maurice said. "It makes you feel better about your game. He does all the really smart things."