The Winnipeg Jets move closer to a playoff spot after a victory against wild-card rival, Vegas. Connor Hellebuyck earned the first star of the game, with 42 saves and a shutout, as well as a few phenomenal saves.

The Jets had two new faces in the lineup, Zach Sanford and Mason Appleton. Appleton showed pretty early on why the Jets missed him in the lineup, and his ability to move the puck was on display. His skating looked good, and he made a few nice defensive plays. Jets fans should be more than happy to have him back after that performance. Sanford was pretty quiet, and didn't make any major noticeable plays, positive, or negative. He was able to play his role well, and should be seen in a similar role for at least the next few games.

The first period was not the Jets best showing, and Connor Hellebuyck certainly kept them in the game. It was well over half the period before the Jets got their first shot of the game, and Vegas was putting on lots of pressure. The defense did not look energetic, and were giving the puck up often, most notably when DeMelo made a bad pass leading to a grade-A chance for the Knights. Again, though, Hellebuyck saved the game in the first period.

Once the second period started, the Jets looked like a whole new team. Opening the scoring was Pierre-Luc Dubois, assisted by Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor on the powerplay. Kyle Connor earned his first of two assists, and after the game has reached 79 points. Connor currently sits 5th in the league in points, tied with Auston Matthews, and 5th in goals as well, just one goal behind Alex Ovechkin.

Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Nikolaj Ehlers all picked up two points as well. Scheifele and Wheeler stay steady, while Ehlers has been very good offensively since returning to the Jets lineup.

The Jets top-six is very, very well rounded. If they can all stay healthy, and continue at the level they have been playing, the Jets have a serious chance to make the playoffs. It is most likely that if the Jets do make the playoffs, it will be the second wild-card spot, as Minnesota holds the third spot in the Central with an 8 point lead on Winnipeg, and Nashville holds the first wild-card spot with the same 8 point lead. As it stands today, Colorado, Calgary, Minnesota, St. Louis, Nashville and LA are all comfortably in the playoff picture, and of course things can change, but for now, they are safe.

The Oilers are currently 3rd in the Pacific, and may stay comfortable, but Vegas is three points behind, and the only other contender for the final Pacific playoff spot.

That leaves one playoff spot up for grabs, and a lot of teams fighting. Dallas (73 points), Vegas (72), Winnipeg (70), and Vancouver (68). Of course, as I said above, Edmonton (75 points) could fight over that divisional spot, but as it stands today, that is the wild-card race.

Do you think Winnipeg has what it takes to make the playoffs and play....Colodaro? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section, and how you feel about this team moving forward.

Jacob Billington

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