The Jets playmakers must step up as a unit
Luckily for the Jets, Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck are not the only playmakers on this hockey team. When the former went down with an injury, several skaters stepped up and have since produced outstanding numbers, but as mentioned in the previous section, they collectively faded.
Mark Scheifele has since become their top points producer in Connor’s absence, but a lower-body injury sidelined him for a few weeks. However, the 30-year-old appears ready to return. This will also mark the first time Scheifele will share the ice with Connor since the latter went down nearly two months ago, and that alone could rebuild the unit’s chemistry.
But there is also Nikolaj Ehlers, Josh Morrissey, and Cole Perfetti, who must also trend north when Sceifele and Connor find their respective games. Should all of the above produce consistently, it will work wonders for a Jets team that looked so good toward the end of the calendar year and well into January, and they may easily reembark on a monster run during this important stretch of the season.
The Winnipeg Jets season will continue on Tuesday against a rather weak Pittsburgh Penguins team, so perhaps they will finally set the stage with a statement win.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)