Nikolaj Ehlers was adamant things were bound to turn around.
As much as the Winnipeg Jets winger was encouraged by the small steps his line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti had taken during the first three games of the regular season, Ehlers knew they had more to give.
When asked what he had seen during those early outings, Ehlers discussed subtle things such as spacing and puck support, noting the trio had some valuable video sessions during the four days between games and took advantage of the additional time to fine-tune a few things.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Winnipeg Jets’ Vladislav Namestnikov looks on as Josh Morrissey’s shot from the point gets past San Jose Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood during the first period Friday night.
“We’re focused on getting this thing working. We’ve got the guys to do it,” Ehlers said following the morning skate. “We’re positive and I’m positive that we’ll get it going. We have to.”
Ehlers and company turned his words into action, delivering an excellent performance that included two goals and an assist in a convincing 8-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
“We knew it was eventually going to come,” said Perfetti, who had two goals and two assists for the first four-point game of his NHL career. “Hopefully now the floodgates are open. That was a really good confidence game for our line.”
Ehlers set up the first goal from Josh Morrissey, scored the second on the power play to make it 2-0 and then buried a pass from Perfetti to cap a three-point night and help the Jets improve to 4-0 on the season.
The Jets wrap up this four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Namestnikov line was involved in three of the Jets’ four goals that came at five-on-five and Ehlers nearly completed the hat trick just over six minutes into the third period.
“The first three games weren’t the greatest for us, we couldn’t get anything going,” said Namestnikov, who had a goal and added three helpers. “We were all using our speed, our skill and just getting those pucks on net and it worked out.
“We’ve just got to build on this game.”
QUIETING SOME CRITICS – With those four days between games, it left ample time to dissect the minute details in the Jets’ hot start and that meant there was plenty of tongue-wagging on social media about the lack of five-on-five offence since the season opener against the Edmonton Oilers (when they scored four times in that scenario).
John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Nikolaj Ehlers (right) and Cole Perfetti celebrate one of Ehlers’ two first-period goals.
During the previous two games, the Jets scored twice at 6-on-5 with the goalie pulled in favour of the extra attacker and two more in overtime (including one on a four-on-three power play).
Did the Jets recognize they wanted to create a bit more offensively at five-on-five? Certainly, but not at the expense of cheating on the defensive side of the puck to do so.
The territorial play was one-sided in this one, as the Jets had 72 shot attempts compared to 45 for the Sharks.
By scoring four times at five-on-five, the Jets are up to eight goals at five-on-five in four games while allowing just four at even strength.
KEEPING THE POWER TURNED UP – The Jets’ power play struck four times in seven opportunities, moving them to seven-for-14 on the season.
The 50 per cent efficiency rating will be nearly impossible to sustain, but the early returns on the man-advantage under Davis Payne have been impressive.
The motion and puck movement has been excellent, as has the willingness to shoot the puck quicker in the sequence to create chaos around the net.
The Jets got a pair of power-play markers from each unit and it’s essential over the course of a season to spread out the production.
“It’s a work in progress. With a new PP coach this year, you’re going to have to learn to grow and learn some new things,” said Perfetti. “We’re getting better every game and every practice and tonight, it paid off.”
John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Jets’ centre Vladislav Namestnikov (right) notches a goal against San Jose Sharks goaltender during third-period action.
GOOSE EGG BROKEN – The Jets penalty kill allowed its first goal of the season on what was the Sharks first power-play attempt.
Jake Walman unloaded a shot from the point that found the stick of former Jets winger Tyler Tofffoli for a redirection.
Toffoli added an assist to move him to four goals and six points in five games after signing a lucrative contract as a free agent on July 1.
The Jets finsished one-for-two while shorthanded, leaving them with an 85.7 per cent efficiency rating so far.
HELLEBUYCK APPRECIATION – With the Vezina Trophy and Jennings Trophy on the concourse and a commemorative pennant with his likeness handed out prior to the game, Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck received a rousing standing ovation late in the first period during a broadcast timeout.
Morrissey couldn’t help but recall the famous media session Hellebuyck delivered after being pulled on multiple occasions during his first season as a starter.
“I think he got pulled in a game and came out and said in the media something along the lines of his game was good enough to win a Vezina, and everyone laughed at him. And sure enough, here we are, two Vezina’s later, and (there) could be more,” said Morrissey. “So, I think he’s just always had a confidence, but it’s not an arrogance, because he has a plan behind it.”
Hellebuyck finished with 19 saves in his 500th NHL start and picked up the 279th victory.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck saves a shot from San Jose Sharks’ Luke Kunin as Cole Perfetti defends during the first period.
EXTRA, EXTRA – Three Jets finished with four points — Perfetti, Namestnikov and defenceman Neal Pionk (one goal, three assists) — while three others had multi-point games, including Ehlers, Gabe Vilardi (two assists) and Alex Iafallo (two assists).
The Jets iced the same lineup for a fourth consecutive game, which meant the healthy scratches were forward David Gustafsson and defenceman Dylan Coghlan. Arniel said earlier this week that he’d like to get both of those players into action shortly, along with a start for backup goalie Eric Comrie.
Following the morning skate, Arniel said he didn’t think that Jets D-man Ville Heinola had been skating yet as he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury. There isn’t a timetable for his potential return yet either. “Nope. Got to wait on that one,” said Arniel.
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Ken Wiebe
Sports reporter
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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