The Winnipeg Jets played their worst game of the season to date in a 4 – 1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canucks continued their hot streak winning their fourth game in a row and ended their streak of 10 straight losses to the Jets before last night’s win. The Canucks pressured the Jets all game and while goaltender Thatcher Demko was not tested frequently, he was solid when needed.
The Jets now play four straight games against the Calgary Flames starting on Monday, February 1.
The Winnipeg Jets fall to fourth place in the North division behind the Canucks.
Here are three talking points from last night’s Jets loss:
3. Shots on Goal Tells the Story
The Jets looked uncharacteristically sloppy in the defensive end and their top six forwards failed to generate any sustained offense on the Canucks all game. The result was that the Jets were outshot 39 – 24 for the game, and a stunning 31 – 11 in the second and third periods.
Connor Hellebuyck got much better as the game progressed. The first goal was one he would like to have back, but in the second and third periods, he was under constant pressure and made some key saves to keep the game as close as it was.
The fault for being badly outshot falls on both the Jets forwards and defense. The Jets forwards lost battles in the neutral zone and the top two lines were not a threat to score. Defensively the Jets’ top pair of Josh Morrissey and Dylan Demelo were on the ice together for three of the Canucks goals.
2. The Jets Defense is Still a Work in Progress
Going into this season the biggest question mark for the Jets was how much their defense improved from last season. The team rushed out to an impressive 5-2-0 record overcoming some roster challenges on defense early on with regular top six players like Dylan DeMelo and Tucker Poolman both missing games for different reasons.
2016 first round draft pick Logan Stanley stepped into the lineup for the Jets and his physical, smart play has kept him on the Jets bottom pair. World junior tournament all-star Ville Heinola has played one game for the Jets this season and looked very good paired with Josh Morrissey. It may be time for Paul Maurice to try that combination again.
Neal Pionk has been the best Jets defenseman this season, and his partner Derek Forbort has been solid, but looks like he would be better suited to a bottom pair role. The North division is loaded with teams with offensive talent, and I fear that the Jets are going to have more nights like last night against the Canucks given their defense.
1. Pierre Luc Dubois is Going to Be the Second Line Center
There has been speculation about where Dubois is going to fit into the Jets’ top six forwards. Given the strong play of the second line of Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Copp playing with center Paul Stastny, many have suggested that Paul Maurice may keep this line intact once Dubois is cleared to play.
Watching the Canucks game made me realize how much adding a player like Dubois will add to the top six forwards. He immediately becomes the Jets’ best two-way center and may be better offensively than Mark Scheifele.
With all due respect to Andrew Copp who has elevated his offensive game, pairing Dubois with Ehlers and Stastny makes more sense. This essentially gives the Jets a 1A and 1B line, and drastically improves the Jets third line with Copp teaming up old pal Adam Lowry.
Dubois is far too talented to move to wing, the third line, or whatever other combination some have suggested. Slotting Dubois onto the second line makes the most sense.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: What do you think were the Winnipeg Jets’ biggest issues in the loss to the Canucks? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*