'Nothing fancy': Jets grind out solid, balanced win over physical Blues

WINNIPEG – The truth of the matter is that it’s far too early in a new season, and the sample size remains too small, to ultimately determine whether this is going to prove to be the precise moment when the lightbulb finally went on for the Winnipeg Jets.

But what Monday’s 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Blues did was provide the blueprint the Jets have been searching for and will be aspiring to apply with consistency and regularity as the 82-game grind continues.

At times, this was bordering on clinical – though not in terms of outright domination by any means.

This was a one-goal game through 40 minutes, which was not a surprise when you consider the Blues had allowed just five goals through their first three games.

They’re a team that plays physical, in-your-face hockey, a defensive juggernaut that can also produce offensively.

So when the final buzzer sounded, it was worth noting the Jets had delivered three hardworking goals at even strength – two off extended offensive-zone cycle shifts and another with a ferocious forecheck – before an empty-netter by Cole Perfetti sealed the deal.

“We knew we were going against a team in St. Louis that made you work for every inch of the ice,” said Jets associate coach Scott Arniel, who ran the bench for a fifth time in six games after head coach Rick Bowness sat out after experiencing dizzy spells following the morning skate. “We did a great job of battling, getting from zone to zone to zone, getting to their end of the rink. It wasn’t going to be pretty getting it there.”

The Blues are a team that can clog up the neutral zone, but the Jets made smart decisions with the puck, limiting the costly turnovers that can lead to dangerous rush chances against.

Although this was one of those nights when the contributions came from all four lines and all six blue-liners, it was an outstanding effort from Jets top centre Mark Scheifele.

Not only did Scheifele open the scoring at 10:30 of the second period, corralling a pass from Josh Morrissey, he also got the play started that led to Sam Gagner’s third goal of the season at 10:38 of the third period that made it 2-0.

The Jets' top line had been held without a goal at even strength in the three previous games since Nikolaj Ehlers left the lineup with a lower-body injury, so this was an important development for the trio.

“You hate when other teams make you turn and make you go back to your own end the whole time, so we just tried to keep it simple through the neutral zone: get it in deep and wear them down. As the game went on, we got more and more, and that was a good game by our line,” said Scheifele, who was encouraged by both the volume and quality of scoring chances the team recorded. “That was nice. You can’t get too frustrated. But that was just solid. It was nothing special. There were no toe-drags, nothing fancy. It was get the puck deep, make them turn, have support in all situations and have a good stick. That lets our D have a good gap and create chances. It is obviously nice to put a few more (goals) up on the board and hopefully we can build off that.”

Scheifele had a tough head-to-head matchup in this one, often battling with Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly, who remains one of the best two-way centremen in the NHL.

But Scheifele was up for the challenge, putting forth an outstanding effort in all three zones, finishing with five shots on goal and six shot attempts in 21:24 of action.

“We’ve challenged him. He’s going to be playing against some of the opposition’s best lines,” said Arniel. “He has to be just as good with the puck, and just as good without it. That line was so dangerous.”

Speaking of dangerous, Jets left winger Kyle Connor created numerous good looks, finishing with five shots on goal and eight shot attempts, including a rocket of a shot that rattled off the crossbar during a third period power play.

Connor has been limited to one goal (an empty-netter in the season opener) through six games, but he’s encouraged by what he’s been generating, despite the slow start by his lofty standards.

“If you’re getting chances, it’s only a matter of time,” Connor said after the morning skate. “That’s how it’s been since I’ve been in the league.”

Morgan Barron also scored for the Jets, giving the team its first five-on-five goal from the third line.

Barron didn’t get all of his shot after taking the pass from Adam Lowry, but it managed to sneak through the pads of Blues goalie Thomas Greiss, who faced 39 shots.

Barron looked skyward and let out a sigh of relief, knowing he had plenty of quality chances during the past several games.

It was another rock-solid outing for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who turned aside 25 shots on goal for his first shutout of the season and the 29th of his NHL career.

“Don’t get outside our game and just grind them. Grind them until we get those opportunities. This game wasn’t going to be won off of a couple sweet plays. It was going to be won in the corners and making sure they got nothing,” said Hellebuyck. “Felt like it was a step in the right direction. We know we have it in this room and we needed to show it for 60 minutes. Now that we have, now we have something to build on.”

As for Bowness, there were a few scary moments for him earlier in the day as he continues to work his way back to 100 per cent after testing positive earlier this month for COVID-19 for the first time.

During the morning skate, Bowness went down on one knee at one point and needed to be helped up.

Then during his media session, Bowness found himself short of breath and gathered himself by grabbing onto the dais at one point, ultimately wrapping things up a bit earlier than usual since he needed to be looked at by the medical staff.

The health of the 67-year-old is the top priority, so his status for the Jets upcoming three-game road trip (which begins on Thursday at Staples Center against the Los Angeles Kings) is up in the air.

But Bowness communicated with Arniel after the game and was proud of the effort put forth as the Jets delivered the most complete effort of the season to date.

“I’m sure he was happy watching that one. Hopefully that picks his spirits up,” said Scheifele. “You just hope and pray for him to feel better and better. That’s really all we can do.”