After defeating the New York Rangers Tuesday evening, the Winnipeg Jets have surged to a outstanding 15-1-0 file, changing into the first team in NHL history to start the season with 15 wins in 16 video games.
Along with their historic begin, the Jets are 7-0 on the street, rank first in targets scored per sport with 4.56, and permit the fewest targets per sport with 2.13.
With issues clicking on all cylinders, the query stays: can Winnipeg stick with it?
Whereas it is unlikely they’re going to finish the season with a .938 factors proportion, they’re nonetheless poised to run away with the President’s Trophy. They sit six factors forward of second-place New Jersey (who’s performed 19 video games, essentially the most within the league). Behind New Jersey are Minnesota and Florida, each with 23 factors to the Jets’ 30.
One huge purpose for Winnipeg’s success is its energy play. It’s at present working at a league-leading 42.2%, which is on observe to be the highest percentage in league history. Apparently sufficient, the Jets sit at simply 22nd overall with 55 concerning penalties drawn.
The largest issue that ought to inform Jets followers whether or not or not they’ll sustain this stage of play is likely to be their 5v5 offense. Whereas they do sit ninth with 5v5 targets for per 60 (2.9), some underlying knowledge could counsel regression. In keeping with MoneyPuck, their anticipated targets for per 60 is just 19th in the league. In addition they have a league-leading 14.5 taking pictures proportion, far larger than the common of the previous 5 league leaders, who’ve a proportion of 11.78, per Hockey Reference.
Lastly, the Jets’ 5v5 targets for above anticipated rank sixth in the league at 6.25, suggesting that maybe they’re overperforming on offense.
Defensively, Winnipeg is backstopped by their Vezina Trophy-winning goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, who leads the league in wins (13) and save proportion amongst these with 5 or extra video games performed (.934). Given his play all through his profession, it would not be shocking to see him with these numbers all season.
That is all whereas the Jets rank because the 11th-worst team in pictures on aim in opposition to per sport, permitting a median of 29.35. They’re permitting a good quantity of scoring possibilities per sport, 28.41, the 12th-worst in the NHL.
That mentioned, does that imply Winnipeg will not end the season as the very best group within the league? Not essentially. With forwards Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers all on pace to have career years, prime defenseman Josh Morrisey averaging over some extent per sport and 24 minutes per evening and Hellebuyck as soon as once more enjoying at a Vezina stage, Winnipeg appears to be like to be a Stanley Cup favourite.
Nonetheless, given some underlying numbers, the Jets will probably regress because the season progresses. They’re going to face robust competitors from their division, with Minnesota and Dallas, however with their historic begin to the season, the Jets are flying excessive.
