WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets have made a strong start to the season by keeping the puck out of their net. Tonight, they’ll find out just how good that team defence really is.
After slowing down one of the NHL’s highest-scoring teams on Monday, the Jets face another offensive powerhouse when they open a three-game homestand against the Colorado Avalanche at Canada Life Centre (6:30 PM, TV: Amazon Prime, Radio: 680 CJOB/Power 97).
Winnipeg has picked up five of a possible six points to start the season, allowing just four goals in wins over Detroit and Pittsburgh. Now comes the challenge of doing it again against an Avalanche team capable of putting goals on the board in a hurry.
“Well, we said right from day one at the beginning of training camp, our identity is our defending,” said Scott Arniel on Monday night following the 3-2 win over Pittsburgh.
“A lot of guys who have been here before recognizing that when we’re at our best, we limit the opposition’s quality chances. It helps our goaltenders to build sort of a foundation. It helps them get into games.”
The Avalanche come to town having won both of their games, scoring 14 goals in the process. It’s another significant test for a Jets team that appears to be in a good place early in the season. Captain Adam Lowry likes the way Winnipeg has come out of training camp and handled the first three games, and believes the team is well prepared for a challenge like this.
“The biggest thing is, we're a team that knows we can continue improving. Guys putting a lot of time on practice days, off days, to give themselves the best opportunity to be successful,” said Lowry.
“And it feels good to take care of two on the road here, but going home, we've got arguably one of the best teams in the league in Colorado, and then Anaheim and Minnesota. So a real tough home stand for us coming up, and that's the thing we're looking forward to rising to the challenge and meeting.”
Another thing the Jets have to be happy about is that they have played so well and have won games without relying on their leading scorer from a year ago, Mark Scheifele. The Jets centre has yet to register a point but it’s not because he hasn’t produced scoring chances.
“This is a team sport. We’ve had great contributions from everyone,” said Scheifele.
“The goaltenders have played great. It’s been a great start to the year. We’re happy with where we are. It’s just a matter of getting team wins. That’s the biggest focus.”
Neal Pionk has been watching Scheifele up close and feels like the points are coming.
“He's beyond due. I mean, the chances that he's had, especially in that Pittsburgh game. I mean, five of them he could have had a point on. So, he's doing a lot of other good things too. There's a lot of stuff behind the scenes,” said Pionk.
“There's a lot of other stuff that doesn't involve a point, but he's doing really well. And kind of like I said in the Pittsburgh game, you can probably go back to the home game against Boston too. He could have 10 points right now.”
