Winnipeg Jets Game #31: Oilers Still Pose Major Threat

The Winnipeg Jets will alternate facing good teams and bad until they find themselves in a deadly seven game stretch, but they shouldn’t be looking past the Oilers. Something they’ve fallen prey to already this season.

The Winnipeg Jets know what the Oilers can do to an unsuspecting team. And it’s impossible to mention the Oilers without mentioning Connor McDavid, who I still think should be on the Sabres.

But it’s hard to imagine a team with Connor McDavid on it being overlooked, but what can you do. I imagine the Jets will be haunted by the Oct. 16 matchup of the two teams.

The Jets took a 4-1 lead into the third period before blowing it in spectacular fashion, eventually losing to the McDavids in overtime. It was peak “Same old Jets” that somehow bridged across multiple sports.

Since then, the team’s had its ups and downs, but seem to be on the rise, scoring at an alarming rate while getting better numbers from netminder Connor Hellebuyck.

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Edmonton is a deeply flawed team, don’t let the hot streak and McDavid confuse you. Their depth is shameful and the defense is mediocre at best, despite Darnell Nurse and the injured Oscar Klefbom.

But in one game? I’d be worried, especially with their play of late and their dangerous powerplay. Don’t underestimate how Hitchcock affects this team, too.

We’ve seen the Penguins go from mediocre to back-to-back Stanley Cups with a mid-season coaching change. I’m not suggesting we should grow to expect it, but it’s not unprecedented.

And yes, that would only further the McDavid / Sidney Crosby comps. But that’s not my problem. I firmly don’t expect the Oilers to win the Cup, but I’m worried about them winning this game.

The Jets schedule gets harder after this. Well, not directly after, as they get Chicago again. But Tampa follows. But soon the team enters a seven game run against the Wild (twice), the Penguins, the Oilers, the Stars and the Avalanche. That’s a stretch of tough games and tough divisional games.

We’ll see how high the Jets can get before that, but we’ll see what they’re really capable of during that stretch. But for now, it’s time to worry about the Oilers with their star, their new coach, and their new goaltender. Well, the last part isn’t the Jets concern, as Talbot will be starting tonight as the team has to play another game tomorrow.

While Connor Hellebuyck has improved his play of late, the Oilers found a new starter. It breaks my heart to see Cam Talbot, a personal favorite, relegated to bench duty, but it’s not unwarranted. I will be glad to see him tonight though since he’s A) playing worse and B) my boy.

New starter Mikko Koskinen has a .927 save percentage in 14 starts, in which he’s gone 10-3-1. It’s a weird career path for the 30 year old, whose only other NHL experience comes in the form of four uninspiring games with the Isles as a 22 year old in 2010-2011.

I have no idea why they signed Koskinen or where he came from, but I bet his story is an interesting one. It makes the Oilers more interesting if he can continue on the Andrew Hammond Reality Tour, and hopefully he’ll make a relief appearance tonight.

The Jets have their work cut out for them, but so do defensively-challenged teams that are facing the Jets. Mark Scheifele is on fire and he’ll probably start to cool off right around the time Patrik Laine gets hot again.

Nikolaj Ehlers has ten points in his last eight games and nobody’s seemed to notice, including myself, other than his hat trick in late Nov against Chicago. Kyle Connor has three goals in his last two games, and he’s now on pace for 35 goals and 41 assists. Hell of a sophomore season so far.

Mark Scheifele Won't Be Underrated for Long. dark. Next

Scheifele’s got five multi point games in his last eight contests, so that’s pretty good too. And that’s ignoring Blake Wheeler, who has points in seven of his last eight. Insane offense, guys. Keep it rolling tonight, it doesn’t get any easier after this one.

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