Jets measuring-stick loss vs. Kings no trigger for alarm — but

Usually, getting swept in a season collection in opposition to a non-divisional opponent doesn’t matter. 

Which explains why Winnipeg Jets coach Scott Arniel was greatly surprised when requested by a reporter if Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings was a measuring-stick recreation. 

He scoffed on the suggestion that his group wanted to show itself in opposition to the Kings.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Arniel deadpanned to the reporter who talked about that Winnipeg went 0-3 in video games in opposition to Los Angeles this season. “We’re sitting on high proper now. So, I do not know if there is a measuring stick. We do not measure that method. We go about how we play hockey. How we go in opposition to each opponent.”

There’s one thing to be mentioned about how Winnipeg has fared in opposition to groups reduce from the identical fabric as Los Angeles.

“They’re extraordinarily stingy; they do not offer you an entire lot,” Arniel informed reporters. “The kind of group that in case you make errors, they pounce on it. No, they’re actual good. They clogged the center of the ice. They play quite a bit like us, they take the center of the ice away.”

The Jets spent a lot of the recreation within the Kings’ finish, controlling 57.8 per cent of the five-on-five anticipated targets share. 

“(When) we’ve got that a lot puck possession, we have got to assault the online a little bit bit extra,” Arniel admitted to reporters. 

The Kings, St. Louis Blues and Vegas Golden Knights — three potential playoff opponents for the Jets — have constantly out-duelled the Jets in net-front alternatives. In eight video games in opposition to these three groups, Winnipeg has generated 26 high-danger pictures throughout five-on-five play and surrendered 54. The opposite underlying numbers below the hood paint an identical image. 

Jets underlying five-on-five numbers in opposition to St. Louis, Los Angeles and Las Vegas:

Arniel has talked in regards to the significance of making chaos in entrance of the online, permitting his group to pounce on second and third alternatives. The Jets excel at sustaining offensive-zone strain — particularly off the cycle — however they should do a greater job of getting in entrance of goalies. Keep in mind how a lot of a difference-maker it was for Colorado when it received in Connor Hellebuyck’s method final spring?

Now, give credit score the place it’s due — these aforementioned groups excel at locking down the slot. However everyone knows that come playoff time, much more targets are scored close to the crease. And it’s that a lot more durable to get into the blue paint within the post-season. 

Thursday’s tilt in opposition to Vegas — a group that has crushed the Jets in every of their two conferences this yr — is their subsequent measuring-stick recreation.

• One too many strikes from Jets defenceman Logan Stanley resulted in a purpose in opposition to, with Andrei Kuzmenko stripping the puck within the impartial zone earlier than scoring to offer L.A. a 3-1 lead late within the second interval. It goes with out saying that the six-foot-seven defenceman can’t be making an attempt to dangle opponents. Whereas Stanley has been taking part in a few of his greatest hockey these days, I nonetheless assume Haydn Fleury will get the nod for Sport 1 of the playoffs. Fleury isn’t leaps and bounds higher than Stanley however he makes fewer errors and is extra cellular, which is essential in any accomplice complementing Luke Schenn on the Jets’ third pair. 

• Winnipeg didn’t generate a single shot try on the facility play throughout its two energy performs. The person-advantage has gone chilly because the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the unit changing on simply 16.3 per cent of its alternatives (twenty sixth). 

“Each models must be higher,” Jets ahead Cole Perfetti informed reporters after the sport. “I imply, it is not simply on (the primary unit), like (the second unit) had a minute on each too and we did not execute. They’re clearly a great kill group, and so they include a variety of strain, and we knew that. And once more, it was execution. I do not assume it was an absence of effort or an absence of, we had the suitable intent and the suitable mindset. I believe it was simply we did not execute the performs they have been coming and we did not transfer the puck quick sufficient.”

• Arniel mentioned Schenn is day-to-day. The 35-year-old left morning skate early, which Winnipeg’s coach attributed to him being “stiffened up.”