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The Winnipeg Jets opened their four-game homestand by splitting the first two games. The good news: Winnipeg upset the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 on Thursday. Unfortunately, the Jets laid an egg in a 5-1 loss to Anaheim the next night.
The Jets are are respectable 3-1-1 through five games.
Connor out of a cannon
It has been a scorching start to the year for Kyle Connor. He is tied for the league lead with eight points (6g, 2a) through five games. For a player that historically does not miss many games due to injury, Connor has a legitimate shot to reach 50 goals. If he attains the milestone, Connor would be the first player in a Jets jersey to reach that milestone since Keith Tkachuk did so all the way back in the
1995-96 season.
Connor may be extra motivated this year. Judging by his comments before the season, he did not seem too thrilled with Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request.
Is this Perfetti’s long-awaited breakout year?
Fresh off of signing a five-year contract extension to remain with the Jets, Cole Perfetti got promoted to the Jets top line to play alongside Connor and Mark Scheifele to begin the season.
He has responded by posting six points through five games. We may finally be witnessing the long-overdue career break out from Perfetti. If he can become an annual point per game player for the Jets, he would live up to his 10th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Secondary scoring still AWOL
After Connor and Perfetti, no other Jets player has more than one goal through 5 games. For the Jets to push for a playoff spot, the Jets need more production from the rest of their line-up. Viggo Bjorck and Isak Rosen have shown flashes of high upside. Meanwhile, Brad Lambert remains a disappointment thus far. Time will tell how long coach Scott Arniel keeps him in the lineup.
Morrissey dealing with injury
Jets star defenceman Josh Morrissey missed the 3 rd period of the Avalanche game and the Ducks game altogether with what seemed like a hand injury. He is officially labelled as day to day. Morrissey is often the only Jets defenceman to chip in offensively.
The team clearly missed him against Anaheim. The Jets mustered only a single goal. Hopefully, he returns for Tuesday’s divisional clash with the Minnesota Wild.
Salomonsson almost ready
After undergoing shoulder surgery over the offseason, it appears as though Jets defenceman Elias Salomonsson is almost ready to rejoin the lineup. His return may be a major boost for the Jets defence group.
Salomonsson shed the no contact jersey at practice last week. He may play as soon as Tuesday night. Even if he is eased back into the line-up by playing on the 3rd pair with Mario Ferraro, Salomonsson should be able to step back into the top-four role soon enough.
