Winnipeg Jets: Three Talking Points as the Jets Lose to the Blue Jackets

The Winnipeg Jets faced the Columbus Blue Jackets for the first time since November of 2019 at Nationwide Arena Wednesday night.

The Winnipeg Jets extended their losing streak to four games losing 3 – 0 to the Blue Jackets courtesy of a shutout by goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.

The big story leading into this game was the return of former Blue Jacket Pierre Luc Dubois for the first time since the blockbuster trade that saw Jets sniper Patrik Laine relocate to Columbus. Two other players faced their former teams Wednesday night as well in Jack Roslovic for the Blue Jackets, and Riley Nash for the Jets returning to where he played for three seasons.

Both Dubois and Laine struggled last year adjusting to their new teams, and both players have had a much better start to this season. Patrik Laine was not in the lineup for Columbus due to the tragic, unfortunate death of his father. Our condolences go out to him and his family during this difficult time.

Even without Laine the Blue Jackets generated better scoring chances than the Jets and ended up putting two goals past Connor Hellebuyck, and one into an empty net.

Here are three talking points from the Jets shutout loss:

3. The Offense Has Completely Dried Up

The Jets have only scored four goals in their last four games which, not surprisingly, have all been losses. The only Jets players to score in the last four games are Dubois, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Dominic Tonitato.

Despite outshooting the Blue Jackets 36 – 32 the Jets could not put any goals past Elvis Merzlikins. Full credit to the Blue Jackets goaltender who was excellent tonight. However, a team with the offensive firepower of the Jets should be scoring at a better pace than one goal per game.

Andrew Copp, Pierre Luc Dubois, and Kyle Connor who started the season at a torrid scoring pace have all cooled off significantly. Worse, the Jets are getting little to no offense from Blake Wheeler (no goals this season) and Mark Scheifele who has two goals and seven points in 13 games this season.

The Jets also started the season with defenseman Neal Pionk, Nate Schmidt, and Josh Morrissey all contributing points on the power play and at even strength. The offense from the Jets’ back end was nowhere to be found on Wednesday in Columbus.

It may be time for coach Paul Maurice to juggle the lines again to try to spark the offense.