As the Jets return from the NHL’s holiday break, they are within striking distance of first place in the Central Division, trailing the Stars by three points with one game in hand.
The first half of the season has been a return to form for the Jets, who finished eight points out of a playoff spot during a tumultuous 2021-22 season. Of course, it helps to have an all-world goaltender in Connor Hellebuyck, but he is not the only reason that the Jets have rebounded.
Here are three more:
PENALTY KILL
The Jets have taken their biggest strides on the penalty kill, going from one of the league’s worst units in 2021-22 (75 per cent, tied for 28th) to one of its best in 2022-23 (81.9 per cent, fifth).
Winnipeg has significantly cut down the number of Grade A scoring chances it allows when shorthanded. Last season, the Jets gave up 0.3 expected goals per two minutes in 4-on-5 situations, the worst mark in the league. Thirty of the 50 5-on-4 goals scored on the Jets came from the inner slot, tied for last.
Under new associate coach Scott Arniel, who oversees the PK, the Jets have done a better job protecting the middle of the ice. The percentage of opposing shot attempts from the slot is down to 46.3 per cent from 51.4 per cent. Winnipeg’s penalty killers have also been far more successful at clearing the puck, doing so on 79.5 per cent of their attempts, compared to 70.7 per cent last season.
JOSH MORRISSEY
At the height of the Jets’ success, they could count on Dustin Byfuglien to make things happen from the back end. When Byfuglien’s career ended unceremoniously following the 2018-19 season, the team lost a significant source of offence.
This season, Josh Morrissey has emerged from Byfuglien’s shadow, leading Winnipeg with a career-high 39 points through 34 games — a 94-point pace over a full season. Byfuglien’s 56 points in 2013-14 are the most by a Jets/Thrashers defenceman.
Morrissey is the only defencemen in the league this season (minimum five games played) not to have gone consecutive games without a point.
The Jets coaching staff has encouraged Morrissey to take more calculated risks in pursuit of offence. He is forgoing the safe play more often, dumping in the puck at a much lower rate (51.2 per cent) than a year ago (58.8 per cent).
That has led to an increase in offensive-zone touches for Morrissey, who is converting them into assists at an impressive clip. Morrissey, who has 19 primary assists and 33 total, knows just where to put the puck for his teammates. Among defencemen, only Adam Fox (24) has set up more one-timers in the slot than Morrissey (23) this season.
Jets coach Rick Bowness said earlier this season that his goal for Morrissey is to be front and centre in the Norris Trophy conversation. So far, so good.
MARK SCHEIFELE AND PIERRE-LUC DUBOIS
Injuries have ravaged the Jets’ forward group. Top-line winger Nikolaj Ehlers has not played since Oct. 17 because of a sports hernia that eventually required surgery to fix. Mason Appleton, who initially replaced Ehlers on that line, injured his wrist in November and also needed surgery. Blake Wheeler was having a solid season before undergoing a groin procedure earlier this month that will keep him out of the lineup for at least a few more weeks
Winnipeg’s top two centres, Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois, have stabilized a lineup that has been in constant flux, combining for 35 goals and 65 points.
Scheifele has been downright dominant offensively, making plays that lead to scoring chances — passes and carries into the slot, among other things — at a rate unseen during his career. Scheifele’s 10.4 offence-generating plays per 20 are his most since tracking began in 2015-16.
Dubois, meanwhile, is a physical force, using his combination of size and skill to hold off and dangle around defenders. Opposing skaters have had a difficult time stripping the puck from Dubois, who has drawn 21 penalties this season, second-most in the league behind Michael Bunting (22).
“When he’s playing downhill, you just can’t stop him,” Wheeler said about Dubois earlier this month. “He’s found a rhythm right now where when the puck’s on his stick, it’s tough to take (it from) him.”
The lingering question is whether Scheifele, whose contract expires after next season, and Dubois, a pending restricted free agent, see a future in Winnipeg.
