Off Day Notebook - Jan. 14, 2023

Rick Bowness was very clear about his feelings following the 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
"That was probably one of the best games we played all year," he said. "It really was, in terms of how we wanted to play and how to be successful going forward. There were no passengers tonight. Everyone contributed."
It was especially notable as a number of players commented on how the defensive side of their team play had slipped a bit in the last few outings.
For a team that prides itself on limiting the Grade A chances against, allowing 11 goals in two games (against Vancouver and Detroit) and 50 shot attempts at five-on-five - according to Natural Stat Trick - against the Buffalo Sabres wasn't ideal.

"Our skill won us that game, along with (Connor Hellebuyck), in Buffalo there," said Dylan DeMelo. "When we all buy in and play that type of style, a style we think is going to win later on in this season and hopefully in the playoffs, that's a tough style to go up against. We know what it's like going up against teams like that."

The Jets controlled play throughout Friday's game in Pittsburgh, with shot attempts at five-on-five favouring Winnipeg by aa 51-37 margin, and the high-danger chances were 8-5, also in favour of the Jets.
DeMelo noted one of the biggest differences came in getting pucks out of the zone when the team had a chance.
"It was something we really preached about after the Buffalo game where we felt we weren't very good there," he said. "Not always a pretty play, but everybody did a great job getting pucks out and not allowing them so much o-zone time."
The schedule won't lighten up, even as the Jets just finished their seventh of 13 back-to-backs this season. The game on Sunday at Canada Life Centre is the lone home game in a nine-game stretch.
After the divisional match-up with the Coyotes, the Jets hit the road for another five games.
MILESTONE TRIP
A couple Jets hit some milestones during the recent three-game road trip.
Nikolaj Ehlers has really hit his stride since returning from missing 36 games due to sports hernia surgery.
He has points in four of his five games since his return. The only one he didn't find the scoresheet was against Tampa Bay, which was his first game in the line-up. He's had multi-point performances in three of those games.
His goal and assist in Detroit also gave him 200 career assists.

Hard to believe the 26-year-old is also knocking on the door of the 500-game mark, as he currently sits at 485.
DeMelo recorded his second multi-point game of the season in the win over Pittsburgh. Those two assists gave him 100 career points.
The defenceman, known for his reliability in the defensive zone, has enjoyed the challenge of trying to add more offence to his game.
"I took initiative to have that mindset to go after it a little bit, put myself out there instead of staying back and playing a little more reserved," said DeMelo. "It's something that as I get older here, something I can continue to grow in my game and try to help us out there."
Mark Scheifele has often said the Jets benefit from the defence joining the play, and he's noticed the work that DeMelo has put in.
"He's doing video, before practice, after practice, all that stuff," said Scheifele. "It comes with a lot of hard work and I think that's what you're seeing here. He's working at it, he's thinking about it, and he's conscious of it and each day, he's wanting to get better."

Josh Morrissey's goal against Buffalo was also the 25th of the season for a Jets defencemen, surpassing the 24 the group had during the entire 2021-22 campaign.
"They all know what we expect of our D," said Bowness. "We expect our D to be a big part of our offence moving forward - in the transition, in the o-zone, and moving the puck out of our zone. That's what we demand out of all them."
Other milestones to keep an eye on going forward:
Kyle Connor has 199 career goals, 198 career assists, and 397 career points.
Blake Wheeler sits at 896 career points.
Mark Scheifele has 615 career points, which ties him with Ilya Kovalchuk for second in Jets/Thrashers franchise history. His next point will put him into sole possession of second place.
STIFF TEST PASSED
Winnipeg's penalty kill has been among the league leaders all season. At 83.5 percent, it's the fourth best in the NHL heading into action on Saturday.
It had a stiff test over the last four-game stretch, going up against Tampa Bay and Buffalo during that time. Buffalo's power play was ranked second the night the two teams faced off, with the Jets killing off all five Sabres chances.
They were also perfect against Tampa (going 4-for-4) on January 6.
HELLEBUYCK BEING HELLEBUYCK
Connor Hellebuyck offered a brilliant breakdown of his game-saving stop in Buffalo.
As Josh Morrissey stopped a wrap around, and the puck popped in the air - with Hellebuyck on his stomach sprawled out on his stomach in the crease - the 2020 Vezina Trophy winner had a good idea of where the puck was going to land.

"I caught it in my peripherals when I looked back. I saw the trajectory and knew I'd have to close my legs," he said. "Sometimes it's nice to have a little luck on your side."
Whether it was luck, skill, or instinct, it doesn't matter. The puck stayed out.
Hellebuyck has 21 wins this season - the second most in the NHL behind Boston's Linus Ullmark - but, as usual, isn't taking full credit for it.
Even the save, one of his best of the year, was a team effort.
"I felt three or four guys right there battling with me," he said. "I had the utmost confidence. I looked back and I caught a piece of it, knew where it was going, and knew exactly what to do."