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Winnipeg Jets Pre-Playoff Stream – Hockey Writers –

Lineage combinations have dominated headlines in Winnipeg for weeks, and those conversations have continued through the Jets' six-game losing streak. Now that the Jets have won five games in a row, the lines are starting to take shape for the Stanley Cup playoffs, where the Jets could face the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.

Over the months, the Jets' six linebacker combinations have changed. With this winning streak and just three games left in the playoffs, they have plenty of opportunities as they prepare for Round 1, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Winnipeg Jets welcome All-Stars with 3-0 win over Connor-Sheifele-Vilardi

The Winnipeg Jets had one of their most impressive wins of the season, a 3-0 win over the Dallas Stars, with Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Villardi leading the way. That trio has been a pain in the ass when together this season, posting a 34.1 expected field goal percentage in 170 five-on-five minutes.

Rick Bowness acknowledged those struggles before the game against Dallas, saying, “Yeah, we've got them back together, they've got to step it up a little bit. We split them up because they spent too much time in our zone, but again, if we want to get continuity with our offense and some of our lines, and they play together a lot, and we have to get them. goes It's that simple.”

Kyle Connor Winnipeg Jets
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets (Amy Irwin/Hockey Writers)

There are concerns about how that trio will stack up on the ice against potential Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon, and those are valid concerns. On home ice, the Jets can control the matchup and make sure Adam Lowry's line is up against Colorado's best, but on the road, that line could struggle.

Winnipeg's 3-0 win over Dallas was a step in the right direction for this stretch, as they defied almost every analytic, created multiple scoring opportunities and didn't give up too many against one of the NHL's best. teams. It's only one game, but it's one where the Jets have played their best defensive hockey in months, and that top line hasn't been pinned in their own zone too often.

Another layer to this line is how dominant the second line of Nikolai Ehlers, Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli has been for the Jets. Rick Bowness said, “The Ehlers-Monahan-Toffoli line, when they played together before Tyler got sick, they were scoring every game. So we have to have some balance on the front end of those two lines.”

In 80 five-on-five minutes, this second line outscored opponents 8-2 and had an expected goals percentage (xG%) of 59.4%, according to Money Puck.

All of that being said, the easiest path to success for the current network configuration is a top line that bucks the trend and outperforms their competitors. Each of the second and third lines have been fantastic, and with the top line contributing, this could be a playoff series-winning nine for the Jets.

The Jets have a chance to return to the dominant Ehlers-Scheifele-Vilardi

With the top line struggling and Bowness hoping to find more balance in the top six, he should be a backup option for the Jets if that top line continues to struggle. That backup option is the dominant trio of Ehlers, Scheifele and Vilardi.

It depends: 3 offers from Jets Game 5 home

They have outscored their opponents 16-6 on five-for-five this season, accounting for 72.7 percent of the field goal percentage. While many Jets fans would like this to be a full-time top line, it's clear that the coaching staff has been shaping the current line configurations for some time. It's been one of the best stretches in hockey, and while the coaching staff insists on the current lineup, it's something they should keep in mind as a backup plan if the series goes south.

Nino Niederrieter missed a few games with a torn leg, but when he returns, he could rejoin the dominant third line of Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton, who outscored their opponents 23-15, 675. minutes this season. They've been tasked with playing tough minutes against the opposition's best lines, and in those minutes they've posted a 60.5 percent field goal percentage, easily cementing them as one of the best third lines in the entire NHL.

Between the dominance of the second and third lines, winning their minutes is up to the top line, and the Jets could have as good a top nine finish as anyone in the Western Conference. If this line loses minutes early and often against the Avalanche in the first round, you could see the Jets coaching staff quickly transition into one of their best lines of the regular season. Until then, Jets fans are hoping their team can hold home-ice advantage over the Avs over the last three games, and with the advantage of watching the latest changes and matchups, you can expect to see a lot of Lowry vs. Lowry. Inside the MacKinnon Canada Life Centre.

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