Jets set NHL historical past, win 15 of first 16 video games

NEW YORK — The Winnipeg Jets made NHL historical past with their 6-3 victory on the New York Rangers on Tuesday evening, changing into the primary crew to win 15 of its first 16 video games in a season.

“You play at MSG, you have to placed on a present,” stated middle Mark Scheifele, who scored two targets within the win. “It feels wonderful. Clearly, it has been an important begin for us, however tonight’s over. Benefit from the win. After which again to work.”

The Jets’ begin has been nothing in need of exceptional. They turned the fourth crew since 1967-68 to steer the NHL in targets for and in opposition to per recreation by means of their first 15 video games. They’ve scored 5 or extra targets in half their video games. Their 73 targets this season are the third most by a crew in its first 16 video games over the previous 30 years.

With their win on the Rangers, the Jets moved to 7-0-0 on the highway. The 36 targets they’ve scored away from Winnipeg are probably the most in NHL historical past for the 9 groups which have received their first seven highway video games.

“We had talked about banking factors at first of the season. We have got a really robust division. I do not assume I fairly drew it up this manner, however actually the fellows have earned each inch of it,” stated head coach Scott Arniel, who was promoted from affiliate coach within the offseason.

Kyle Connor scored twice, whereas Gabriel Vilardi and Vladislav Namestnikov added targets. Connor Hellebuyck made 33 saves for the Jets, a lot of them essential stops in opposition to the Rangers to take care of his crew’s momentum. Hellebuyck is now 12-1-0 on the season and outdueled the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin (5 targets on 32 photographs) in a battle of favorites to win the Vezina Trophy because the NHL’s high goaltender.

Connor stated he felt that the Jets’ forecheck benefitted from the Rangers urgent offensively.

“I believe they, for lack of higher phrases, had been dishonest for offense in sure areas. They had been going previous our defensemen at occasions, and we had been in a position to maintain pucks in and make ’em pay,” he stated.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette merely felt the Jets executed higher.

“I do not assume we had been urgent. Once you’re taking part in a crew that is firing offensively and the execution is not the place it must be, it will probably flip round on you fairly rapidly,” he stated.

Scheifele scored 57 seconds into the competition earlier than the Rangers’ Will Cuylle tied it at 13:07 of the primary. Vilardi put the guests forward on the facility play at 8:58 earlier than Alexis Lafreniere tied the sport once more at 12:51 of the second. Connor put the Jets forward for good at 16:03 of the second. Scheifele scored once more 1:08 into the third — his ninth of the season — earlier than Kaapo Kakko narrowed the deficit to 4-3 simply 32 seconds later. Namestnikov scored his fifth at 13:08, and Connor accomplished the scoring into an empty web with 20 seconds to play.

“It is coming from all areas of our crew, high to backside. Everyone’s concerned in it, and that is what makes it so harmful, so deadly,” Connor stated of the Jets’ offense. “It is not only a one-trick pony. If one line has an off evening, we normally have two or three going.”

The Jets proceed on the highway with video games on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday and the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday.

Connor stated the crew understands the historical past it is making however is not permitting it to be a distraction.

“Truthfully, we all know what we’re doing, however we do not take an excessive amount of inventory in it. It is transfer on to the following one. It is ‘How can we enhance, how can we be higher?’” he stated. “I believe that is what made us profitable thus far. No person’s happy. We received 15 right here, however I simply assume that speaks to management not getting comfy. Nonetheless a whole lot of season left.”