WINNIPEG — The team that has prided itself on being the hunted is in danger of an unplanned role reversal.
For several months, the Winnipeg Jets have been neck and neck with the Dallas Stars in a race for top spot in the Central Division – and they’re barely more than a week removed from owning the best points percentage in the entire Western Conference.
But the first full case of adversity has officially arrived for the Jets.
And yes, injuries and a taxing schedule have been part of the reason for this turbulence, but for a team that has constantly reinforced the importance of playing through whatever comes their way, this rut can no longer be glossed over.
It is a testament to the Jets impressive start to the campaign that this is the first three-game losing streak of the season, all of which have come in regulation time.
Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild made it six losses during the past nine games for the Jets – the lone exceptions coming against the Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators, all teams below the playoff line in their respective conferences.
Meanwhile, the Wild have won seven of the past eight games and now sit one point behind the Jets while holding a game in hand.
And don’t look now, but the Colorado Avalanche are also in hot pursuit, three points back with two games in hand.
Thanks to a victory on Tuesday, the first-place Stars have extended their lead over the Jets to five points (though Winnipeg holds a game in hand) so that gap is also widening.
“We know we’ve got some adversity with the bodies we have out. We’ve got guys that are stepping up and playing good minutes for us. It’s just kind of finding a way to win,” said Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon. “Whether that’s defensively, where we’re shutting the other team down. Or our special teams are getting the job done. It’s nice to know that’s our first three-game losing streak of the year.
“But (for) every team, the rest of the way, we’re a measuring stick for teams with the way we’ve played these first 35 games. We can’t expect to surprise teams anymore. They’re coming here knowing what to expect. Playing their best hockey. We just can’t be surprised at that, especially come next game.”
So, perspective is an important thing at this time of the season.
As the Jets prepare to close out a two-game stretch at home on Thursday against the Canucks, this is by no means a time to push the panic button.
It’s about improving the execution element.
With news that rookie forward Cole Perfetti would be out for seven-to-10 days with a suspected shoulder injury, the Jets are without seven regulars (including Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton, Saku Maenalanen, Nate Schmidt and Logan Stanley).
So to expect them to be a high-scoring juggernaut and outscore teams isn’t likely a recipe they can lean on right now.
What it does do is heighten the importance of being a bit more sound defensively and sharper with the man-advantage (which finished zero-for-two on Tuesday).
Jets head coach Rick Bowness opted to load up his top offensive players on a line on Tuesday, putting Pierre-Luc Dubois between Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.
The trio put together its share of looks, one of which resulted in Dubois’ 16th goal of the season, which leaves him alone in second spot on the team (behind Scheifele’s 20).
However, the Jets were unable to generate much else and when you pair that with a couple of puck management miscues, you have the formula for another loss.
“Things have got to improve,” said Bowness. “That’s why we’re down 2-0. The urgency has to be there right away. The details have to be there right away. They can’t get better as the game goes on. Our margin of error right now is slim. It is. We have to live with that reality, which is fine. The solution is to make sure that our details are (right).”
The Jets got a scare during the first period when defenceman Josh Morrissey left the game momentarily with what appeared to be an issue with his left arm/elbow after he got tangled up with Wild forward Matt Boldy.
Morrissey, who chipped in an assist to record his team-leading 40th point of the season, went down the tunnel for further evaluation but returned quickly and didn’t miss a shift and that sound you heard was a collective sigh of relief on the Jets bench.
“When he came back there (was) just huge relief,” said Jets forward Adam Lowry. “He is the anchor on the back end there, he’s been so critical for us in every situation. He’s a key cog in the offence and in the d-zone shutting down the other team’s top players in every situation. He plays big minutes, so when you see him wincing in pain, you just hope it’s a bit of a stinger. Glad he was able to come back and play hard. A lot of relief, for sure.”
Lowry had a shorthanded breakaway on Filip Gustavsson, but his backhand caromed off the post and the Wild went the other way and got a power play goal from Jared Spurgeon that opened the scoring.
“I think I opened him up a little bit, unfortunately just too sharp of an angle and it slides past him and grazes the post,” said Lowry. “It would have been nice to see that one go in, but instead we go down 1-0 the other way. I’ve got to keep my composure there, I probably shouldn’t haven’t have gone in for that hit on (Frederick) Gaudreau to give them numbers coming back.”
As for their current lot in life, the Jets realize they won’t be getting any players back for roughly a week and maybe longer, so they’ll need to find an internal solution.
“I think after every loss there is urgency. You want to get back on the right foot and you want to put it behind you and get back to playing well and executing and doing what you know can make you successful,” said Lowry. “Losing three in a row is frustrating and tough, but we need to find a way to stop the skid and start compiling points again. The race is tight, there are a lot of teams that are within five or six points.”