Thomas' Five Storylines - NSH @ WPG
Jets can win consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 6-8
by Jamie Thomas @JamieThomasTV / Winnipeg Jets
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
The Jets were finally rewarded for their hard work and commitment to defence on Saturday with their 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Over their last four games the team has started to look much better in their own end and have been creating lots of chances in the offensive zone as well. So the win over St. Louis was deserved and showed the Jets if they stick to the program, good things will happen.
"It's tough. You have to be careful as a coach as you are selling the same idea over and over and the results not there," said Paul Maurice.
"So give credit to the leadership in the room, keeping them on task and keeping them doing it."
ROSLOVIC CONSISTENCY
Saturday was a huge night for Jack Roslovic as he figured in on the Jets first three goals with two goals and an assist against the St. Louis Blues. He now sits at a career high 11 goals and is two points shy of the 24 he put up last season. The Jets need Roslovic to keep producing as they fight through injuries and it seems like Maurice may have found some good chemistry with Roslovic, Andrew Copp and Jansen Harkins.
THE POWER PLAY IS STILL FINE
Winnipeg has one goal via the power play in the last six games and are 0-for-8 through the first two games of this three game homestand. The chances are still coming and because of that there is no concern of behalf of the coaching staff even though it would help the Jets significantly if they could start producing with the man advantage. Winnipeg is 1-for-15 on the power play against the Predators in their last six meetings.
"You worry about your power play when something dramatically changes on what they're doing that's out of structure," said Maurice.
"So they lose their confidence and now it looks really slow. So there's not really any chances. It's been the opposite of that for us. Especially the last game, the Bruin game (0-for-6, 12 shots on goal) it's about as right as it's going to get other than scoring goals."
REFRESHED HELLEBUYCK IS A BETTER HELLYBUYCK
The rest over the break did the Jets All-Star netminder a lot of good as he stopped the first 35 shots he faced on Saturday night against the Blues before recording his first win since January 14th. Hellebuyck faced 40 shots that night and has shown he is at his best when busy this season going 5-1-1 with a 2.29 goals against average and a .947 save percentage during the games where he faces 40 or more shots.
PREDS BACK IN WINNIPEG
Nashville comes to Winnipeg for the second and final time this regular season. The Predators and Jets ordinarily have what's called "high event" games but that was not the case during the 1-0 Nashville win on January 12. Look for there to be more action in both ends of the rink and some more emotion as the two Central Division rivals along with Chicago fight over the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. Winnipeg is three points out and Nashville sits four back of the Arizona Coyotes heading into tonight's games.