After storming out to a 3-1 lead in the 1st period against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, the Winnipeg Jets managed to fall apart over the next 2 frames to extend their losing streak to 11 games. With no time to search for answers to their inability to protect leads this year, the True Northers will be back in action on Friday night when the Los Angeles Kings come to town.
The Jets (15-22-5) haven’t picked up 2 points in a game since December 13th, when they absolutely demolished the Washington Capitals 5-1. Winnipeg remains at the bottom of the NHL standings, along with a couple fellow Canadian franchises in the Vancouver Canucks & Calgary Flames. Goal scoring continues to be a problem for the club with the 7th least goals in 2025-26 (121 GF) and the Jets are no a middle of the pack defensive team (16th w/ 134 GA).
The Kings (18-14-10) just concluded a homestand where they went 2-1-1 before flying to the much colder climate of Manitoba. Very much still in the fight for the playoffs, they are currently holding onto the final wildcard spot in the West, despite being the 5th place team in the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is one of the few teams that scores less than our squad, since their 114 goals for has them tied with the Flames as the 2nd worst offensive club. Defensively, LA is at the opposite end of the spectrum as they have allowed the 3rd least goals against (117).
Tonight’s game at the Canada Life Centre will kick off at 7 pm Central and here is how the two clubs’ year-to-date stats compare, via ESPN‘s team & goaltender comparison numbers:
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The biggest thing I take from the above stats is Los Angeles’ ability to stifle offense, allowing a half goal less than Winnipeg has this year. The Kings’ struggling goal scoring abilities should be helped by the expected return of Eric Comrie to the net….though Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t been playing all that great the past few games.
No pre-game skate today due to the back-to-back situation, so we will have to look at the last game’s lineup for now. I did hear that rookie Danny Zhilkin will make his second NHL start….and Illegal Curve seems to think Vladislav Namestnikov will return to the starting roster as well.
WINNIPEG JETS LINE UP
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LOS ANGELES KINGS LINE UP
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The Kings will be without forwards Trevor Moore & Corey Perry, who are on IR, but the status of a couple more is unknown with Anze Kopitar & Joel Armia listed as day to day. For the Jets, only defenseman Haydn Fleury remains unavailable to head coach Scott Arniel.
When I look at the scoring leaders for both teams, you see a pair of Winnipeggers well out front but you also notice the slightly better depth the Californians have:
WPG: Kyle Connor (51 pts), Mark Scheifele (50), Gabriel Vilardi (37), Josh Morrissey (34), Nino Niederreiter & Alex Iafallo (15), & Morgan Barron (14)
LA: Adrian Kempe (34 pts), Kevin Fiala (31), Quinton Byfield (24), Anze Kopitar (21), Alex Laferriere (21), Corey Perry (21), & Brandt Clarke (19)
Go Winnipeg Jets!!!!!
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POST-GAME INFO
Scoring Summary: (courtesy of ESPN)
FINAL SCORE: Winnipeg Jets 5 Los Angeles Kings 1
**the first time in a long while I was able to put the Jets out front of the Final Score section.**
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Game Stats: (courtesy of MoneyPuck)
Expected Goals (all): LAK 3.73 WPG 2.31
Expected Goals (5on5): LAK 3.51 WPG 2.00
Despite the quick start by Winnipeg, it was Los Angeles who led the xG battle until early in the 2nd period. After that, the Jets were out in front until halfway through the 3rd period, when laying back and letting the Kings come at them allowed the visitors to pile up 2.163 xG’s in the final frame to retake the lead.
The Zhilkin line was limited to 7:22 in 5 on 5 icetime vs the Kings, but the other 3 units saw at least 10 minutes. Because a lot of Winnipeg goals came during shift changes, only 3 of them occurred against the 4 lines above. The Toews trio had the best xG rating for the Jets, but broke even in real goals with 1 for & 1 against. The Lowry line was the other to be on the ice for a Winnipeg goal on the above chart, with the other 2 goals coming when Vilardi was reunited with his usual linemates Scheifele & Connor for 1 shift and then the 4th line getting their goal with captain Lowry playing center.
I really liked what I saw from Zhilkin & Perfetti tonight…but the whole team played fairly well.
No injuries allowed Arniel to roll three defensive pairings tonight, with the top duo getting just over 18 minutes of 5 on 5 play and the other two closer to 14 minutes. It was Miller filling in for Pionk teamed up with Samberg that saw most of the action, being on the ice for 2 Winnipeg goals & 1 from Los Angeles. Despite getting killed in the xG battle, the Stanley–Schenn pairing did outscore the Kings 1-0. The final goal by the Jets came during a onetime shift with Samberg & DeMelo.
The Jets’ backup tender was very good tonight, bouncing back after his last outing saw what might have been his worst performance of the year. Comrie wasn’t tested too much in the first 2 periods, but made saves when called upon, including a nice one in the final minute & a half of the 2nd frame that led to a Winnipeg counter attack goal to make the game 5-1. The always smiling goalie was most impressive during LA’s 3rd period press, which included a powerplay and the Jets getting outshot 12-3. A massive Goals Saved Above Expected rating confirms the feeling that the final score could have been much closer.
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BOJA’S Post-Game Thoughts:
Well, I probably said enough with my add-ons in the stats….but it was certainly nice to see a cheering crowd at the Canada Life Centre again. It has been a while…..like since December 13th. That was in a whole ‘nother year!!! Way back in 2025.
Winnipeg will get the chance to go on a winning streak as the New Jersey Devils will be limping into Manitoba on a 3 game skid that has seen them get outscored 16 to 2. That is a Sunday afternoon affair….see you back here then!!
