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

2. Jets Special Teams Play Needs to Improve

The Jets went 0 – 4 on the power play against the Blue Jackets Wednesday night, which extends their record to 1 – 22 on the power play since November 6. Both power play units looked disorganized and passive generating few quality scoring chances.

The defense trio of Pionk, Schmidt, and Morrissey seems to have lost their magic on the power play for the Jets as they contributed little and struggled to keep the puck in the offensive zone. Power play specialists like Wheeler, Scheifele, and Kyle Connor the Jets should be converting on better than 18.9% of their chances for the season, and 5% of their chances in the last four games.

The Blue Jackets scored on one of their three power play opportunities Wednesday and controlled the puck very well in the Jets zone. Once again Connor Hellebuyck was forced to keep the team in the game with some excellent stops.

Paul Stastny is set to return to the Jets lineup in the next game which should help as he is one of the best Jets on the power play. In addition, removing Riley Nash should also work as addition by subtraction as he has been ineffective.

Penalty killing is a problem that Maurice may have to solve by using different combinations of players at forward and on defense. Perhaps it might be time to call up penalty killing specialist David Gustafsson from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL to generate some energy on a lethargic penalty killing unit.