Patrik Laine's confidence good sign for Jets

WINNIPEG -- Patrik Laine is heating up again.
The Winnipeg Jets' rookie forward has scored three goals in his past two games, including two against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in a 6-3 loss at MTS Centre.

Laine, 18, leads NHL rookies in goals (15) and points (21) in 26 games. Laine's 15 goals are one less than League leader Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who has 16. The next-closest rookie in the goal race is Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has 10.
Matthews was selected No. 1 in the 2016 NHL Draft. Laine was No. 2.
The outburst by Laine this week, which also included the game-winner in a 3-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. It followed six games without a goal.

Laine said his confidence has been trending higher.
"When the confidence is up, it's easier to play," Laine said. "Everybody knows that. But I just have to find some ways to be better on the ice and be a better team player and help my team to win.
"I've had good chances to score and I've managed to score a couple of goals so it's good. But the team is losing and that's not good. I'm here to help my team to win and I couldn't do that [Thursday], so of course I'm disappointed."
Laine scored power-play goals in the first and third periods against Edmonton. Each was a one-timer from near the top of the left circle, and each was a rocket. He has seven power-play goals, tied for first in the League with defenseman Shea Weber of the Montreal Canadiens.
The Oilers had their eye on Laine on Thursday, but the rookie's shot was away quickly and accurately on each of his goals.
Laine said he did not feel overly smothered by Edmonton's attention during 5-on-5 play, but felt he was more the center of attention when Winnipeg was on the power play.
"That's going to open up some more room for other players," Laine said. "We have some good guys on our power play.
"I got two power-play goals, so there was enough space. I think there was maybe a little bit … of room on my side. Our four players did a good job getting me the puck and good scoring chances."

Laine has scored on 21.7 percent of his 69 shots and said his focus continues to be on shooting.
"I just want to shoot as hard as I can," he said. "That's my mentality. If it goes towards the net, that's a good thing and I try to do that. Now I've got a couple of good chances and they went in so I'm happy for that but there's disappointment after this kind of game."
The Jets (11-13-2) were outgunned 3-2 by the Oilers' power play, and by NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid's three assists.
"He's really fast," Laine said of McDavid, who has 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists), six more than any other player in the League. "That's a hard thing to play against him. I think he will get stronger so he can be a better player, I know that. It's hard to play against many players and he's one of them. You just have to find some ways to stop him."
Laine said Thursday he's aware his own production and his team's opportunities to win are becoming more difficult with each passing day.
"It's getting harder and harder to get those points," he said. "When the season goes on, everybody's getting better, so it's harder.
"We need points now. It's hard when the season is ending to get those extra points, so we have to get them now."