The Winnipeg Jets eked out a win against the Tampa Bay Lightning thanks to an empty net goal. While they got lucky to get the win in regulation, they did not get lucky in how they got there. The Jets got solid contributions throughout their lineup including their third line scorings once again. Thanks to Connor Hellebuyck having another strong game, the Jets were able to pull out the win in the end.
The Jets’ forward lines still seem to be working well. Who knows how things will change when Bryan Little is able to return, but Jack Roslovic has done well on the Jets second line and the first line looks pretty strong (more thoughts on Patrik Laine coming tomorrow hopefully).
As for the defence: I agree with I think it was Ken Wiebe who said that Nathan Beaulieu has made a difference. He is not a world-beater, but he solidifies the third pair and makes it better than it was without him. Could they make more adjustments? Possibly, but they are making do with what they have in the NHL and you cannot complain about that.
Three Thoughts
- The third line of Adam Lowry, Andrew Copp, and Mathieu Perreault is a really great line. Copp and Lowry are a solid duo by themselves and playing them with Perreault elevates them to being an offensive threat as well. Perreault is a good player who has struggled to find a landing spot in the lineup for some reason. For a while he was the fourth line Jesus and at other points he was put on various lines due to injuries. He seems to have found a home on the Jets third line and looks good there. His skills also provides the offensive boost that Lowry and Copp benefit from.
- Josh Morrissey has been struggling this season. It might be because he does not have the same synergy with Tucker Poolman as he had with Jacob Trouba or maybe it is the pressure of being The Guy without anyone backing him up like he had in previous years where his pairing always had Dustin Byfuglien and his partner behind them. Shouldering the load could be getting to him or it could be something else. Hopefully whatever it is, Morrissey figures it out soon and he is able to return to his normal awesomeness.
- Nikolaj Ehlers should run a clinic on zone entries. He’s so good at them and even when he is not scoring like he has been, he brings something important to the team. When he is firing on all cylinders like he was today. Ehlers had another really strong game and his work on the power play helped the first unit with his puck carrying abilities.
