The Winnipeg Jets’ starting line of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi have taken the brunt of pundits and NHL fans at times with their poor five-on-five play. Many raised their lungs at the beginning of this season when new coach Scott Arniel decided to keep these three players together despite losing and being given a chance last season under Rick Bowness and Connor and Scheifele who were expected to score less than 50 goals in five. the last six seasons without Nikolaj Ehlers on their line.
A Connor/Scheifele/Vilardi encore seems inconsistent with the Jets’ focus on being elite at 5-to-5 and many wondered why Arniel would continue to try to stop Connor/Scheifele’s square peg in the round hole despite seeing their struggles with his own eyes. in his two seasons as associate coach under Bowness. Some suggested that the leash should be shortened for the trio this season, and when they were outscored 9-2 in nine games, cries for the plug to be pulled became louder.
The First Line Changed Things
But boy, have things changed since then and have been the key to the Jets’ current seven-game winning streak and record 15-in-16 start.
They have outscored their opponents 9-1 in five of the last seven games, with each player scoring three goals. During that time, they have a 61.97 percent expected goals (xGF%) and have produced 27 dangerous chances while conceding only 11.
Oh, I’ll just pass you by 😅 pic.twitter.com/tr9ukl238z
– Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 13, 2024
On the season in 211.8 minutes together, they now have a 51.5 goals XGF%, 10.3 expected goals for (xGF), and 9.7 expected goals against (xGA.) They produce 3.12 goals per 60, while they allowed 2.83 out of 60.
The 2.83 goals against per 60 isn’t the best for the Jets by a long shot — the fourth line of Alex Iafallo/Rasmus Kupari/Morgan Barron allows a paltry 1.22 per 60 — but it’s a big improvement. Last season, in 195 minutes together, the line had a 35.3 xGF%, had a 6.7 xGF to 12.3 xGA, and produced 2.05 goals per 60 while allowing 3.77.
The change really started on Oct. 30 in Detroit against the Red Wings, two days removed from their first – and still only – loss of the season when the Toronto Maple Leafs came in and fouled the line repeatedly. Against the Red Wings, the line scored three goals in the first five-on-five period en route to a 6-2 win and hasn’t looked back since.
Those are Kyle Connor’s 500th and 501st career points! 🛩️#NHLStats: https://t.co/THxh29055v
📺: @ Sports or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ pic.twitter.com/FzsYUTRcvS
— NHL (@NHL) October 30, 2024
Secure Shopping That Leads to Success, Arniel and Connor Basho
“Their buy-in off the puck was a big part of it. If they don’t have it, they can get it,” said Arniel after the Jets’ 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers on November 12, where the line connected on three of five of five goals. “They know things like that and they want to be on the good side of those numbers. It’s a long season and those things have a tendency to work themselves out. I like that, first of all, they think about our end and know that they have a skill set when they have the puck, it’s on their stick, they’re going to make plays and put themselves in scoring positions. “
“It goes through that neutral zone and doesn’t turn the puck over,” Connor said. “It’s a function of our team game. Playing hard defense.” (From ‘Jets stars shine in 6-3 over Rangers,’ Winnipeg Free Press, Nov. 12, 2024.)
Jets Are Scarier When The First Line Is Clicked
Although the seven-game sample is small – especially considering that the historical samples of inefficiency are still large, especially for Connor and Scheifele – it is encouraging to see the first line know that they need to defend better and have the puck more often. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to solving it.
Time will tell if the starting line backs up, but when it does, the Jets don’t have a single weak line and are even more intimidating to opponents. The team’s balanced attack has been a huge blessing: they now have 11 players with 10-plus points – every one of the top nine forwards has that distinction and Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk at the end – with Connor, Scheifele, and Ehlers. all are 20-plus. This team has scored six or more goals seven times and leads the league with 73 goals.
Related: Winnipeg Jets Have NHL’s Best Record, But Are They The Best Team?
The starting line and the rest of the Jets will try to continue their strong play as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight in the second game of their three-game eastbound road trip. There is no doubt that “to prove it” for the group even though it has made history and is putting up a ton of points before the most important symbol of American Thanksgiving.
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