As they head south on a four-game road trip through the Eastern Conference, Winnipeg and coach Scott Arniel realize not much has gone well lately.
Struggling through a six-game winless streak (0-4-2), the Jets open their six-day journey with a match Thursday night at the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Earning a mere 2 points out of a possible 12 has slid the club in the Central Division standings to the point where they’re only above the Chicago Blackhawks.
The last two performances were particularly painful, especially coming immediately after elite goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was sent to the New Jersey Devils for an underwhelming return.
In what was considered a neutral-site meeting in the outdoor Heritage Classic in Winnipeg, the Jets were dealt a 2-1 setback Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Then came Tuesday night’s 5-1 drubbing by the Florida Panthers, which matched the Jets’ widest loss of the year against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 9.
The Panthers went 3-for-5 on the power play and needed just six shots to build a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
“We really beat ourselves in this one,” Arniel said. “I don’t know the reasoning. At the end of the day, that’s something we’ll have to dig into here. But our penalty-kill certainly has to be a lot better than it was. (We) made a lot of mistakes, and we took a lot of penalties. We could have had another too-many-men (penalty).”
Arniel has been asked often about splitting up Mark Scheifele (two goals, six assists) and Kyle Connor (nine goals, three assists) on the top line because the Jets have scored just 10 goals during their six-game slide.
“I’m not in panic mode here,” he said, “(but) yes, I do need (to change) it. … I’m going to start to work my way towards something. Guys are playing themselves up, some guys are playing themselves down.”
Defenseman Josh Morrissey, who has not played since Oct. 7 due to an upper-body injury, will accompany the team on the trip.
The Lightning were ready to get home after wasting a 4-2 lead Saturday night at Utah. The Mammoth rallied to record a 5-4 overtime victory as second-year defenseman Dmitri Simashev delivered his first game-winning tally in overtime less than two periods after netting his first NHL goal.
Reigning Hart Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov had the primary assist on Brayden Point’s marker in the first period that put Tampa Bay up 3-1.
It was the 1,138th point in Kucherov’s outstanding career and made the 13-year veteran the franchise leader.
“It means a lot, and I appreciate everyone who has played with me and been a part of it,” Kucherov said.
A reticent, rarely interviewed performer, the club’s new all-time leader gave praise to the player whose record he eclipsed — 16-year Lightning legend Steven Stamkos.
The mention of Stamkos drew a slight smile from the Russian right winger who dished many of his 733 assists to his former captain — often when camped in the left circle on the man advantage.
“He was really good on and off the ice,” Kucherov said. “He’s the reason why I have so many points. He was putting them in the net so many times. I had such a great time playing with him and having him on the power play. He’s (always) going to be a part of my success.”
Tampa’s top goal-scorer, Brandon Hagel (seven goals, six assists) has points in eight of 11 contests this season.
–Field Level Media
