Jets snap five-game skid – Winnipeg Free Press

That sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief coming from the Winnipeg Jets locker room.

After losing five in a row, the Jets were able to muster a lot of effort, mixed with the understanding that the second period could end in a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at Canada Life on Saturday night. Center.

“It's been a while. We were trying to figure out who got the jackets,” Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers said, joking about the postgame ritual the team engages in after victories. “It shows you how much time has passed with a long break.

“You come off a five-game losing streak, you don't just want to get two points, you want to get back into the right game. Today we did it in 40 minutes. Now we have to change it to more than 40 minutes. We know what kind of team we have here.”

It's important to understand that the Jets were able to catch a breather, but also have a few things that need to be cleaned up as things get tougher in these final 32 games.

“To come out like we did was huge,” Ehlers said. “We played very well in the first period. We skated and worked hard. I think we shot the puck and made it difficult for them to get anything in our zone. But the second stage was obviously not enough. Third period, we're back. There are always things we can clean up, but overall we deserved the two points.”

Jets head coach Rick Bowness largely kept the details of his second-round disappointment to himself, despite a flurry of questions afterward.

“The only thing I'll tell you about the second period is that it was very disappointing and we'll leave it at that,” Bowness said, when asked about the pair of momentum-killing penalties. “No. No No No. We were a little hard on ourselves there, but no.

“Just a sad period. But, give the players full credit because they bounced back in the third period. We played very well in the first, and very well in the third. We played well enough to win this game and that's what matters. Did we lose our game in the second period? Of course we did.”

The Jets, who improved to 31-14-5, host the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday to complete a two-game sweep.

“It's all about winning hockey games now,” Jets forward Nino Niederreiter said. “Obviously, when you're going to push and put yourself in a great position for the playoffs, you've got to make sure you're winning some close hockey games.

“There will be no easy games. There are teams that haven't been in the playoffs recently, and those are important games to win because they don't play with much of a structure. It's up to us to stick with what we're doing.”

Let's take a closer look at what happened in this case:

QUICK START FOR THE GROUP CREATE: One of the big storylines going into the contest revolved around Ehlers' rise to the top with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

The streak started with a contest and led to several surprising first-period possessions, eventually when Ehlers turned the stick of Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson for a perfect one-timer from Scheifele, who had led the way to 15 goals. June.

Ehlers started the game with a smart read in the defensive zone, knocking the puck out of the air on a pass attempt.

“I knew where he was coming. Even though I didn't get it, I knew the guy coming into the zone was going to get that puck, and I just tried to get the stick. Fortunately, it worked,” said Ehlers, when asked about what he was thinking when the play got into the offensive zone. “The shooting didn't work for me in the last game. I knew I was going through this. I thought Karlsson was too deep so I could make that pass. He was very open.”

The line of Scheifele, Ehlers and Connor combined at even strength for 13 shots on goal, 20 shot attempts and 11 scoring opportunities, four of which were of the high-danger variety.

“We skated,” Ehlers said. “All three can skate and make it difficult for defenses to come up on us when we use it. It creates time and space to make the plays we can make. In the second period, I think, at least for me, I tried to make too many plays that turned into some turnovers.”

Bowness liked what he saw from the trio.

“Oh, they were flying,” he said. “Look at the odds, we're coming in alone, uninterrupted, 2-on-1. So the win should help us. Eventually those pucks start coming in for us.”

DROUGHT ENDS: Niederreiter went back to his office to make it 15 goals in a game, finding the ball from Nate Schmidt and failing to find the back of the net.

Niderreiter is up to 13 goals on the season, most of them coming in and around the blue.

“I try to get there as much as I can,” Niederreiter said. “It's not easy to get there. But once you're there, the pucks will come and it's just a matter of time, but I'm glad I found it.”

Niederreiter turned down a quality opportunity in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

“In Philly, it was definitely a game where we bonded,” Niederreiter said. “We had a lot of opportunities, and I had a great opportunity. I realized that I have to stay with him and eventually he will come.”

The gift arrived on Saturday.

“If you look at the Philly game, there were four or five great scoring opportunities at the line,” Bowness said. “It just didn't come in. We met them (Saturday) morning and (told them) keep doing what you're doing. You get a little break. He enters.

“That line, they were really good. We needed to finish the third period on the right foot and they did. They got the puck deep and they did their job, so it's nice to see them finally rewarded.”

HELLEBUYCK stands HIGH: Making his 37th start of the season, Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was in fine form, finishing with 35 saves.

“He was amazing,” Niederreiter said. “He is our support. He helps us win hockey games every night and gives us a big chance.”

Without Hellebuyck's play — especially in the second period, when the Jets were down 16-7 and down — the Jets could be talking about a six-game losing streak.

“If he hadn't played in the second period, we wouldn't have been ahead,” Ehlers said. “I've said it a million times now. We have two very good goalkeepers and they are top class. We are very happy about it.”

HIGH HOCKEY: Jets quarterback Logan Stanley had a lot going for him in this contest as he played for the second time since Dec. 12.

An early turnover led to a great scoring opportunity for Penguins forward Colin White in the slot, but Stanley rallied before the end of the first period to record his first point, an assist on Niederreiter's goal. Stanley was whistled for two minor penalties in the second period, one for interference and one for fouling, to finish with two shots in 14:12 of ice time.

“Logan took what we did to him and just played him the number of games we played him,” Bowness said.

With three full days until their next game, the Jets will decide whether to stick with Stanley on the third pairing or recall Ville Heinola from the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Hainola has played 12 AHL games since coming back from a broken ankle and scored a goal against the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday. In order to make room for Heinola on the roster, the Jets would have to force someone to waive or make a trade.

ADDITIONALLY, ADDITIONALLY: Saturday's game was the fourth sellout of the season and there was plenty of black and yellow in the stands.

The only healthy scratch for the Jets was forward Dominic Toninato, while Brenden Dillon sat out the second game of his three-game suspension. Connor played his 500th NHL game on Saturday and has 228 goals and 454 points since entering the league as the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

Former Jets forward Jansen Harkins received a warm welcome from fans inside the building when a message was posted on the scoreboard during halftime. Harkins had quality scoring opportunities and was on the receiving end of a heavy check from Jets captain Adam Lowry in the first period.

Harkins appeared to favor his right shoulder after the collision, but he remained in the game and finished with 5:37 of ice time in the third period, though he did not change.