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Is Wheeler back?

November 10, 2018, 11:58 AM ET [11 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Let's be totally honest here, last night's game is a small sample size. That being said it was the kind of sample that many Jets fans needed to see from this group, especially after seven days off between games after the completion of the global series.

Wheeler was back to his old self and was in on every goal the Jets scored including the empty net goal to make it 5-2. The other good news is the guys who should be scoring were with Ehlers, Connor, Laine , and Scheifele all scoring goals with two on the power play. The Jets power play is now the top-rated unit in the league clicking at a ridiculous 34.8%. What is even more impressive about the PP unit is the Jets have the 6th least amount of PP time in the league. To complicate the special teams scenario they also have spent the 9th most time on penalty kill.

The other part that was impressive was two 5vs5 goals, baby steps right? That would be enough to keep them close but when you play the most penalized team in the league chances are if you get enough chances (four last night) the Jets PP is going to click on one.

Wheeler, with a 4A and 1G game, is now 7th in the league in scoring and only three points back of leader Rantanen. Pretty amazing for a guy who has been seen as not playing well at all. Take away his 5 points from last night and Wheeler would still be in the top 50. It's early though so things are tight now but expect separation to continue.

What was most impressive is that the Jets held the NHL's deadliest line of Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen to almost nothing in terms of points and chances. In fact they kept the entire team in check all night aside from two goals. For many observers this level of completeness was what they had been looking for. For others the fact that as the Avalanche tried to get close the Jets always had an answer by way of scoring, something that became all too familiar and expected last season.

There's still trouble in the henhouse though and what would this space be if a shot at Tyler Myers was not fired? Exhibit A:





In fairness to Myers he had another player down low on the goal line or below it so he was trying to be cautious but what happened is he misread the play. Let's be specific here with this example- it's the read not the action. Had Myers read that pay correctly a different outcome may have happened that led to a goal but it likely would not have happened that way, the easy way. Myers has the physical tools and skill to be a decent, reliable defender in his own zone but his reads are bordering on abysmal. It's between the ears for Myers and perhaps he needs a defender whisperer?

The Jets host the Devils on Sunday who are coming off n epic beatdown at the hands of the Leafs. Expectations will obviously be for a win but let's get more specific with them. This team needs to have more 5vs5 scoring, some depth scoring and sound defensive containment of the key players for the opposition and beyond. Another thing to consider is having Connor Hellebuyck play a solid game consecutively.

Do that, and it may not all happen at once, and this team may be on to changing course on it's current trajectory of average. If you had to prioritize I'd like it this way:

1. Defensive coverage in all three zones
2. Solid consecutive goalie game from Hellebuyck
3. Depth scoring at 5vs5

Everything after that is gravy as the problem areas really are above.
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