The Winnipeg Jets needed a win against the Montreal Canadiens for no other reason than they had fallen out of a playoff spot and needed a win to get back in. Thanks to a strong second period, they did just that.
The Jets finally made some lineup changes including playing Sami Niku for his second game of the season. Niku has had some injury issues this year in the AHL, so it was great that he is healthy enough to be playing in the NHL now. Niku adds more mobility and offensive prowess to the Jets defence which needs both.
The Jets forward lines also looked more stable with the return of Andrew Copp. While Copp is not a big offensive producer, he is able to add an element to the Jets lines that just improves them overall. He makes the third line stronger and therefore the rest of the team stronger because the top six is already very good.
Three Thoughts
- Connor Hellebuyck does not look nearly as controlled as he normally does. This has been an on-going issue and one that needs some correcting. The good news is that Hellebuyck regularly plays a more controlled style, so this should not be too hard for them to fix. Alas, it has been happening for a while.
- The Jets are the least penalized team in the league according to TSN. Maybe it is time to stop thinking that the refs are out to get them and hate them. The refs have made some atrocious calls this year, but the Jets have not been penalized that much.
- Nikolaj Ehlers is a huge part of the Jets team and seeing him possibly be hurt was scary.
- Random fact: the Habs had more Atlanta Thrashers picks (two) in the lineup than the Jets (zero).
