WINNIPEG — Throughout the season, coach Scott Arniel has consistently assessed his team`s progress with a singular focus:
How does this impact the Winnipeg Jets` playoff ambitions?
If you`re tired of this recurring theme, it`s understandable. It`s perfectly fine if you`re among those who are ready for the regular season to conclude.
However, Tuesday`s 3-2 overtime victory against the Washington Capitals provided a significant “A-ha!” moment – demonstrating that these Jets are considerably more formidable than in previous years.
Few players exemplify this team`s evolution better than Nikolaj Ehlers, particularly given his past playoff performances.
Ehlers sealed the win in overtime with a precise shot for his 24th goal on a breakaway, eliciting the loudest cheer at Canada Life Centre this season. This occurred on a night when the Jets secured their playoff spot as the second team in the league. This wasn`t just another highlight goal from Ehlers; it capped off a game where he was part of the team`s shutdown line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton.
“I decided to use Lowry and (Appleton) against (Tom Wilson) and (Pierre-Luc Dubois), to match up against their size,” Arniel explained. “Initially, I wasn`t sure who could directly challenge Tom Wilson physically. I considered that perhaps (Ehlers) could be the answer. I thought it could be a strategy to use speed against Tom, who is an excellent player. The aim was to make them defend and play in their zone, and I believe our line achieved that.”
Beyond scoring the decisive goal, Ehlers contributed seven scoring opportunities and two hits in a tightly contested game. A common criticism of the skilled winger has been his lower impact in playoff games, where he has only accumulated 14 points over 37 games (averaging 0.38 points per game), which is notably less than his regular-season average of 0.78 points per game.
Historically, Ehlers has struggled to maintain his offensive production when the stakes are higher and defensive play intensifies.
However, Tuesday`s game was different. Ehlers was arguably Winnipeg`s most impactful forward in what was their most physically demanding game of the season.
“He understands his linemates,” Arniel noted. “With highly skilled players, you might approach the game differently. But playing with guys like Appleton and (Lowry), who are likely to play the puck deep and pursue it, Ehlers adapts to provide support. He`s adept at finding open ice.”
Ehlers rarely plays on a shutdown line, except for a brief period with Lowry and Alex Iafallo in late January. Yet, he seems receptive, if not enthusiastic, about continuing in this role.
“I`m focused on utilizing my speed every time I`m on the ice,” Ehlers stated. “We`re working on anticipating each other’s plays as much as possible. I felt today was decent. We had some strong shifts, although I might have given the puck away a bit too much personally. Playing with these two, who are effective in deep zones, maintain possession, and create space for me and the other winger, is something we want to capitalize on. I enjoy playing with them, and we need to keep improving. You never know how long you`ll play together, but I think we`ve made good progress, which is definitely exciting for us.”
Stoller`s Insights
- Appleton`s comment on the challenge of defending Alex Ovechkin was insightful. Ovechkin scored late in the third, forcing overtime.
- Cole Perfetti continues to impress. His playmaking along the boards is exceptional, even considering his skating and size. His resilience in handling physical play from Matt Roy was notable, and he didn`t back down from the physical challenge.
“He was on the puck a lot, and I liked his puck possession,” Arniel commented on Perfetti. “He drove to the net from the corners a few times. These are positive developments, reflecting his growth as a player, which is crucial for playoff hockey.”
