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Home , Connor Hellebuyck, Dale Weise, Mark Scheifele, Nolan Patrick, TSN Hockey

Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/what-the-hellebuyck-is-going-on-actually-theres-no- surprise-why-jets-are--best-457751873.html

What the Hellebuyck is going on? Actually, there's no surprise why Jets are 's best

By: Paul Wiecek

So here’s a proposition that would have been preposterous barely a month ago: Jets, the best hockey team in Canada.

Believe it.

A team that is, as of Wednesday morning, sixth in the NHL standings, third in the Western Conference and second in the Central Division is also, by a lot of measures, No. 1 in Canada.

With a record of 6-1-3 in their last 10, which includes a 4-1 win Tuesday night over the at Bell MTS Place, only the and are banking points at a faster clip than the Jets right now.

And while the Maple Leafs have one more point in the standings than the Jets as of this morning, the Leafs have also played two more games, meaning no team north of the 49th parallel has been more proficient so far this season at converting games into points.

Hands up if you saw that coming six weeks ago? Liar.

While there’s all kinds of wise guys today who will tell you they’d predicted this for the Jets, there’s a reason bookmakers at the start of the season had the Jets as the second longest shots in Canada to win the Stanley Cup this season, their 50-1 odds better than only the 75-1 .

Those two teams, not coincidentally, were also the only two teams in Canada not to make the NHL playoffs last season. With all kinds of lingering questions about the Jets goaltending heading into this season, there were a lot of people who thought the playoffs would be a tall order for Winnipeg again this year.

Well, what a difference six weeks — and some great goaltending — has made.

The most reliable predictor of whether an NHL team will make the playoffs has long been whether that team is already in a playoff position come U.S. Thanksgiving and with Turkey Thursday just a week away, it’s now a foregone conclusion the Jets will be above that line.

Now, nobody ever won a Stanley Cup in November and you only have to consult a Bombers fan this week to find out how quickly and how far a once high-flying team can fall as the season wears on.

But in a season in which a lot of people thought it would be the Oilers who might finally end Canada’s 24-year Stanley Cup drought, it’s actually the Jets that are making the best case at the moment.

There’s a lot of things working for the Jets right now, starting with a top line that includes — in (sixth) and (eleventh) — two of the top 15 scorers in the NHL.

They’ve been as good on the road (5-2-1) as they’ve been at home (5-2-2); they’ve been perfect in a very tough Central Division (4-0-0); and a once anemic power play that bedevilled this team for years is now clicking at the seventh highest rate in the league thanks to a sniper in Patrik Laine, who is tied for third in the NHL in power play goals with five.

And it’s amazing what a difference having six healthy, NHL calibre defencemen has meant to this team. Yes, Buff still wanders too much. No, Dmitri Kulikov is no Paul Coffey.

But as a group, the Jets blueliners have been more than serviceable and, most nights, part of the solution instead of part of the problem, which isn’t something you could say very often in the past.

Here’s a stat that tells you a lot about the job the Jets defence has done this year — the club is 7-2-3 this season when they’ve been outshot, which speaks volumes about the quality of shots the Jets defencemen are forcing teams to take.

But the biggest difference — and difference-maker — has, of course, been the goaltending.

I figured as far back as last season that there was nothing so wrong with this Jets team that a decent couldn’t fix. What I never expected, however, was that they had that goaltender all along in .

Hellebuyck was sensational — again — Tuesday night, turning away 33 of 34 shots to bump his season save percentage to a sizzling .930.

That’s 23 points higher than last year and those few extra saves have been the difference night after night for the Jets this year. With Hellebuyck in net this season, the Jets are a cool 9-1-2, which translates into an incredible 20 of 24 possible points.

Throw in a backup in Steve Mason who has improved markedly in his last couple outings after a disastrous Jets debut in early October and the Jets goaltending has gone from the single worst part of this franchise to the single best part this season.

And the rest of the hockey world is beginning to take notice.

The folks over at TSN.ca this week listed the Jets third overall on their weekly power rankings, behind just the Lightning and St. Louis Blues.

Now, a thumbs-up from TSN plus five bucks will buy you a coffee at Starbucks, but it’s worth mentioning simply because when the Toronto Sports Network is noticing what’s happening in Winnipeg, it’s because we’ve become impossible to ignore any longer.

With the Oilers and Habs struggling early this season, the Leafs without an injured and every other team in Canada dealing with one issue or another, the Jets have very quietly — at least until now — become the best story in Canadian hockey.

Is it sustainable? I have no idea.

The kill is still not a strong point — Winnipeg is 19th in the league — and there’s some numbers this team is putting up right now that just seem unsustainable.

Scheifele, for instance, has scored this season on a mind boggling 28.6 per cent of his shots. No one in the league with as many shots as Scheifele — 35 — is within three points of that conversion rate.

And then there’s all those assists for Wheeler, who with 18 helpers already this year trails just Steven Stamkos, who for my money is the best playmaker in hockey right now. Wheeler is a fine player who appears to be having a career year, but colour me skeptical that he can keep pace with a guy like Stamkos over 82 games.

And yet, who knows? I never saw coming what the Jets have already done this season, mostly because I never saw them getting this kind of goaltending. And yet here we are, approaching the 20-game mark and the Jets are the best team in Canada.

Believe it?

That’s up to you. But I will leave you with this:

It’s no longer unbelievable. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/thursday-could-be-night-for-perreaults- return-457877603.html

Thursday could be night for Perreault's return

By: Jason Bell

Soon the time will come — it might well be tonight — when the convalescing is over and returns to regular duty for the .

Therein lies the minor dilemma for and his coaching staff, who must do some tinkering with a roster that, for the first time since the franchise moved north from Atlanta, most closely resembles an upper-echelon NHL squad.

The Jets (10-4-3), who have won six of their past eight, host the (8-8-2) tonight at Bell MTS Place. Game time is 7 p.m.

Who comes out of the lineup? Which individual from either the third or fourth lines pays the price, not specifically because of performance but more due to simple mathematics, as Maurice can only dress 18 skaters.

"(We) could have to make a decision to take somebody out. Matty’s indicated to me that he’d like to be a player in the next game," Maurice said following Tuesday night’s 4-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. "Barring anything unusual, I’ll have to make a decision. If Matty’s ready to go, I’m going to put him into the lineup."

Expect Kyle Connor to stick with the Jets’ offensive leaders, centre Mark Scheifele and right- winger Blake Wheeler, while a second line of , Patrik Laine and will likely remain untouched.

Perreault is likely destined for a spot on the third line, where fourth-year centre has been a solid performer, scoring a pair of goals in four games since returning from an injury. Linemates Andrew Copp and Brandon Tanev have checked effectively and created some scoring opportunities while excelling on a penalty-killing unit that’s efficiency is trending upward.

"The way (Copp) scored the first one (against Arizona), just driving it to the net. They had a lot of good offensive-zone time early in the game again. Really good on the puck battle for (Lowry’s) ," Maurice said. "So, they were playing it the right way, there’s some good chemistry there and, at times, they also have to go and play against the other team’s best when Scheifele’s line is not doing that job. It looks like they’ve got something going on there."

On the fourth line, centre Matt Hendricks and Joel Armia both have hit the scoresheet lately. Hendricks has also been a key contributor on a PK-unit that has killed off nine straight shorthanded situations.

One of either Armia or Shawn Matthias, who has gone 16 games without a goal, could be the odd man out when Perreault returns and Tanev presumably drops down a rung.

● ● ●

The Jets had the day off Wednesday, while the Flyers had an afternoon skate at Bell MTS Place.

There’s a strong connection on the visiting squad, including injured centre Nolan Patrick and winger Dale Weise, both of Winnipeg, and 21-year-old defenceman Travis Sanheim of Elkhorn.

Selected by Philadelphia in the first round (17th overall) in the 2014 NHL draft, Sanheim had three terrific seasons with the Hitmen of the and spent the 2016-17 campaign with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the , scoring 10 goals and adding 27 assists.

Offensively gifted and a strong, smooth skater, Sanheim is playing about 16 minutes a night on the team’s third pairing with Radko Gudas.

Right now, he’s living the dream but it’s come with some expected growing pains, he said.

"Early on, there was (nerves) but just the last couple of weeks I’ve started to settle in and find my game," said Sanheim, who has two assists. "When I was drafted, there was lots to learn and I played two more years of junior and that one year of pro to develop my game and play against men and battle against those guys. I think it set myself up good for this year.

"Every night’s a new challenge. The skill in this league is incredible and if you’re not ready to go at the puck drop, you’re going to be in trouble." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/bantam-team-gets-surprise-as-jets-star- joins-squad-for-pickup-game-457877073.html?k=rncarR

Bantam team gets welcome surprise as Jets star joins squad for pickup game

By: Jason Bell

Aptly named Winnipeg Sharks goalie Matthew Kieper wanted to bury that oh-so-rare chance to score, particularly when the perfect setup came from the Winnipeg Jets’ usual triggerman, Patrik Laine.

"I got a pass from him. I should have scored, but I hit the post," said Matthew, 13. "I was pretty upset. I wish I put that one in."

The miss was inconsequential, really. Matthew and the Sharks got something far more meaningful, a special memory bound to last a lifetime — a surprise meet-and-greet with one of the NHL’s brightest stars.

Laine dropped by the Valley Gardens Community Club on a chilly Wednesday afternoon to play road-style hockey with the Sharks AAA bantam-2 squad. He posed for pictures and even left his temporary teammates with some loot, including Vapor 1X Lite sticks, courtesy of event sponsor Bauer Canada.

Kieper was the random winner of Laine’s signed stick the second-year NHLer used in the game of shinny.

"I’ll keep it up in my room, look at it every day and remember that he came," Matthew said. "It’s really special because you don’t get to see pro hockey players up this close, and to see someone with that big a name come out is awesome. He was just one of the guys."

Well, sort of one of the guys.

At 6-4, Laine towered over the kids who are just six years younger than him. He flashed some good hands and his trademark quick release, rifling the hard, orange hockey ball at the heavy- duty nylon "shooter tutor" tarp with wicked velocity. He was generous, too, dishing to just about every kid screaming his name for a pass. He even got bumped off the ball a couple of times, much to his delight.

It was all so familiar to a guy who ate, breathed and slept hockey growing up in Finland.

"This was the things that we were doing all day long, playing with my buddies," Laine said. "It was so much fun back in the day when we were playing and it didn’t matter if you were the goalie or scoring, it was super fun and it’s still fun."

Andrew Thevenot, 13, a Sharks forward, said he cashed in on a great pass from Laine, whose visit came as a complete shock to the squad.

"I had no idea, I just thought this was all just advertising. It’s pretty cool they would do all this for us," Andrew said. "I was just on the ice and everybody was like, ‘Hey, Patrik’s here, Patrik’s here’ and I’m like, ‘Who’s Patrik?’ And then he comes out and it was so cool. He’s got probably one of the best wrist shots that I’ve ever seen."

But his backchecking? Jets head coach Paul Maurice wouldn’t have been particularly thrilled with that aspect of his game, although mobility was clearly an issue. When it came to proper footwear, Laine chose poorly.

"It was a bit slippery and I wasn’t sure I was going to play street hockey, so I wasn’t really prepared for this," Laine said, staring down at his black Ugg boots. "But it was still a lot of fun. At first it was a bit cold, but then we started moving and right now I’m sweating. It’s always nice to play outside."

Laine, who has nine goals and three assists in 17 games for the Jets this season, said he’s always eager to take some time to put a smile on kids’ faces.

"There was a lot of excitement when they saw me and I think that was the whole point of this. I’m feeling good because it doesn’t take much from me to make those kids happy, and hopefully they will remember this day," he said.

No one was keeping score, but, like all kids, Laine was keenly aware of his offensive production.

"Couple of goals and one apple... I’m satisfied," he said, grinning.

Winnipeg Sun http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/mason-fondly-remembers-time-with- flyers-jets-big-free-agent-acquisition-stays-patient-after-slow-start

Mason fondly remembers time with Flyers: Jets big free-agent acquisition stays patient after slow start

By Ken Wiebe

Steve Mason isn’t suffering from buyer’s remorse.

Sure, there was a time when his preference was to remain with the Philadelphia Flyers organization that helped him resurrect his career when he was on the verge of stepping away from the game.

But he had plenty of time to deal with those emotions and move forward before free agency officially opened on July 1.

And while it’s obvious this wasn’t the start he’d envisioned when signing a two-year deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Winnipeg Jets, Mason has been around the block long enough to know it’s early in the season and things can change quickly.

Based on his past two starts, one could make the argument things have already started to change for the goalie that got a contract worth $4.1 million per season and was the prized signing for the Jets on the first day of free agency.

Since the Jets used Wednesday as a day off, Mason took some time after Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Coyotes to reflect on his time in the Flyers organization and to chat about how things are going with his new team.

“You know what, honestly, I just treat it like another game. Whether I’m playing or not, I’m not sure,” said Mason, who is 1-3-1 with a 3.76 goals-against average and .892 save % in six appearances with the Jets. “I had wanted to go back there (to Philadelphia). But seeing that they wanted to go in a different direction, you take it as what it is. Come the summer, there were no discussions, so you move on. I’m happy to be in Winnipeg.”

At the time of the discussion, Mason still didn’t know if he was starting against the Flyers or if he might get the call instead on Saturday against the as the Jets continue a three-game homestand.

But with 14 games during the month of November, his workload is going to increase, no matter how well Connor Hellebuyck is playing.

Part of the reason Mason was brought into the Jets organization was to serve as a mentor for Hellebuyck.

Another was to push the young goalie to be better and Hellebuyck has answered the call on that front.

By making 33 saves in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory, Hellebuyck is 9-1-2 and has a 2.32 goals-against average and .932 save %, which leaves him among the league leaders in those categories.

That’s the biggest reason Mason has only appeared in so few games to date.

But things are trending upward for Mason, who has put together three strong outings and recorded his first win of the campaign by making 29 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Coyotes on Saturday.

“I’ve felt a lot more comfortable in the last couple of starts here,” said Mason. “It was a difficult transition. The first few games didn’t go the way I would have liked. With (Hellebucyk) playing the way he is, I haven’t been able to get back in the net (often). I’ve just got to continue working hard and bide my time.

“Right now, with (Hellebuyck) playing well, I understand the situation that I’m in. Whenever I do get into the net, I want to make the most of it. The last game in Arizona was a positive step.”

When it comes to his time with the Flyers, Mason has mostly positive memories, which included 231 regular-season games (including 221 starts) and eight playoff appearances.

“I feel very fortunate to have been part of that organization for five years,” said Mason, who was quick to credit goalie coaches Jeff Reese and Kim Dillabaugh for their efforts. “Looking back on it, there were a lot of positives. I’m just happy I was able to restart my career there. I made a lot of friends there. I enjoyed playing in front of a passionate fan base, just an overall great sports city. And I’m proud to have been a Philadelphia Flyer.”

Playing in a place that’s occasionally referred to as a goalie graveyard never entered the equation for Mason, whose confidence was shaken when he arrived in a trade with the .

“I didn’t really think much of that,” said Mason. “I just took it as a fresh opportunity and a place where you get to play in front of a sold-out building with passionate fans. For me, that was fun. Looking back on it, I was fortunate to have it.”

While there were some rocky times to navigate, Mason felt plenty of support from the Flyers’ faithful.

“Most of the time,” said Mason. “They just want to see a winning hockey team and we tried to do that as much as possible.”

What’s the most important thing Jets head coach Paul Maurice has learned about Mason this season?

“He’s got a real good handle on where he’s at,” said Maurice. “He doesn’t need his hand held. He watched (Hellebuyck) play exceptionally well and knew it wasn’t going to be his time during that stretch. And he just worked, got ready, got stronger. He’s just a good pro.” http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/perreault-ready-to-go

Perreault ready to go?

By Ken Wiebe

The competition among forwards is about to heat up for the Winnipeg Jets.

With Mathieu Perreault set to be activated off the injured reserve list, the versatile winger could be back in the lineup as early as Thursday when the Jets continue a three-game road trip against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Although the Jets took Wednesday off, Jets head coach Paul Maurice was asked following Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes about the status of Perreault.

“(Perreault) has indicated to me that he’d like to be a player in the next game,” said Maurice. “Barring anything unusual, I’ll have to make a decision (on who comes out). If (Perreault) is ready to go I’m going to put him in the lineup.”

Perreault missed the past 12 games with a leg injury sustained after blocking a late in the second period on Oct. 14 against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Although he started the season with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, Perreault (who has one goal and three points in five games this season while averaging 15:25 of ice time per game) figures to slot in at least initially on the third line with Adam Lowry and either Andrew Copp or Brandon Tanev.

Perreault also figures to provide a boost to the Jets power play, which entered Wednesday’s action seventh in the NHL.

Perreault’s return should only enhance the balance throughout the Jets lines.

If Perreault suits up against the Flyers, forward Shawn Matthias (who has two assists in 17 games) or Joel Armia (who scored his third goal of the season on Tuesday) could join Marko Dano as a healthy scratch.

Dano has sat out the past eight games and 10 of the past 11. http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/five-keys-to-jets-vs-flyers

Five keys to Jets vs Flyers

By Ken Wiebe

Winnipeg Jets vs Philadelphia Flyers

7 pm CT, Bell MTS Place, TV: TSN. Radio: TSN 1290

THE BIG MATCHUP

Mark Scheifele vs Forever linked by the 2011 NHL Draft, the seventh and eighth overall selections have each grown into key contributors for their respective teams. Scheifele is anchoring the top line for the Jets and Couturier is doing the same for the Flyers as he’s expanded his offensive game after being known as more of a shutdown guy.

KEYS TO THE GAME

Keeping it tight (defensively) Strong goaltending, especially in the first period of each of the past two games was an obvious factor, but in three of the past four contests they’ve managed to hold the opposition to one goal against. The exception was giving up five goals against the last Friday. The Flyers have been shutout five times in 18 games to start the season (and have gone 156 minutes and nine seconds since scoring their last goal), but they’ve got some firepower up front and you could say they’re overdue to find the back of the net.

Secondary scoring continues For a good chunk of the campaign, the Jets have relied on their top line and the power play to carry the load offensively. On Tuesday, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor played well but were held off the scoresheet, but the Jets still managed to score four times – including three goals from the bottom-six forwards.

Start of a hot streak? With Jets centre Bryan Little snapping an 11-game drought on Tuesday, might he be ready to take off offensively? He’s been a streaky scorer during his career and after getting the proverbial monkey off his back, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him relax and get into a groove with linemates Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine, who had his five-game goal streak snapped on Tuesday but has a six-game point streak (five goals, seven points).

Be more disciplined The Jets have been shorthanded 23 times during the past five games – including five times against the Coyotes on Tuesday – and need to try to cut that number down. On the flip side, since giving up three power-play goals in six opportunities against the Canadiens on Nov. 4, the Jets have successfully killed off 15 of the past 16 shorthanded chances.

Patrick’s potential return After missing the past nine games with a suspected concussion, Winnipegger and former Nolan Patrick is closing in on a return to the lineup. The second overall pick in 2017 has one goal and three points in nine games while averaging 12:29 of ice time as a rookie. You can be sure he’d love to play well in his hometown.

Global Winnipeg https://globalnews.ca/news/3862581/merry-mayhem-on-its-way-for-winnipeg-jets-fans-sharing- the-road-with-santa/

Merry mayhem on its way for Winnipeg Jets fans sharing the road with Santa

By Lauren McNabb

Winnipeg Jets fans are being asked to keep their heads up this weekend if they want to get in and out of downtown without being run over by a reindeer.

Saturday afternoon’s game against the New Jersey Devils starts at the same time road closures begin for the Santa Claus Parade.

From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m Portage Avenue from Young Street all the way to Main Street will be closed. Several side streets around the Bell MTS place, including Hargrave Street, Donald Street, Smith Street and Fort Street will also be closed.

The game is expected to end around the same time the parade begins, 5 p.m.

Jets fans are being encouraged to get to the game early, and keep their cars off the side streets around the rink. The Winnipeg Jets sent out the following information:

Parking • Consider parking on the side of Portage Avenue (north or south) that will be most convenient for you to get onto your desired route out of downtown; if you will be heading south, southwest or southeast after the game or parade, it may be best to park south of Portage Avenue.; if you will be heading north, northwest or northeast, it may be best to park north of Portage Ave. You can access Portage via the skywalk. • Please be prepared to park and walk a little farther than you would normally. • Please direct any questions regarding parking lot access to the parking lot operators.

Accessibility Drop off and Pickup • Patrons needing to use the Accessibility Drop off Area on Donald may do so until 2:30 p.m., at which time access to Donald will close. • As the streets surrounding Bell MTS Place will all be closed at the end of the game, we suggest that patrons use the skywalk to access City Place and exit onto St. Mary Avenue between Donald and Hargrave for accessibility pick up. • Transit buses are also being re-routed in that area. the bus is also being advised routes in and out of the downtown

CBC Winnipeg http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/santa-parade-jets-1.4404376

Expect a crowded downtown Saturday as Santa Claus Parade, Jets game overlap Santa Claus Parade set to start at 5 p.m., shortly after end of Winnipeg Jets game Saturday

By CBC

It's going to be a busy weekend in downtown Winnipeg, so plan your travels accordingly.

This year's Santa Claus Parade will shut down Portage Avenue and several cross streets starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday — Just before a 2 p.m. Winnipeg Jets game at Bell MTS Place.

The parade will start in earnest at 5 p.m., as thousands of hockey fans begin their journeys home.

Pedestrians will only be able to cross Portage using the skywalk into Portage Place mall, and drivers are asked to park their vehicles on whichever side of Portage they need to be on as they exit.

Santa Claus is coming to town for annual parade Parade director Monica Derksen said her team has a plan to make traffic run smoothly, and she's looking on the bright side of the logistical challenge.

"I think we've got a great plan going, and I think it's also a great way to get 15,000 extra viewers at the Santa parade," she said.

"I think there's nothing else you can do. They're both great Winnipeg institutions so you've got to celebrate them both," she said.

The following closures are expected:

• Portage Ave. will be closed between Main Street and Sherbrook Street at 1:30 p.m. • All north and southbound intersections along that stretch of Portage will also be closed. • Main St. will be closed at 1:30 p.m. between Portage Ave. and William Stephenson Way.

Derksen said staff has been in contact with the City of Winnipeg and Bell MTS Place to organize the overlapping events.

She said Bell MTS Place has notified ticket holders about expected delays and provided instructions on how to use the skywalk.

Patrons requiring the Accessibility Drop Off Area on Donald Street can do so until Donald street closes. After the game, those individuals are advised to use the skywalk to access City Place mall and exit on St. Mary Avenue between Donald and Hargrave for pickup.

Parade staff with handhold radios will be positioned on each block to ensure pedestrian traffic doesn't interfere with the parade, Derksen added.

"It's a matter of us staying in regular contact with each block and watching the procession," she said.

Volunteers needed The parade is also in "urgent need" of about 100 additional volunteers for its No Feet on the Street team, Derksen said.

"This year, I think because there's a lot of overlap in things that are going on, there's so many things for people to be involved in and participate in," she said.

"We just encourage people that if they've got a bit of extra time on Saturday, we would really appreciate more support on that side of things."

The team is intended to keep spectators on the sidewalks — not the street — and assist parade-goers who have questions about the event.

If you want to get involved, you can sign up online. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/patrik-laine-surprises-minor-hockey-team- 1.4404463?cmp=rss (VIDEO LINK)

Patrik Laine surprises minor hockey team

Winnipeg Jets star Patrik Laine surprised the Winnipeg Triple A Sharks minor hockey club with a visit and brand-new sticks for every player.

Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/dale-hawerchuk-reflects-perfect-fit-winnipeg-jets/

31 Thoughts: Are Carey Price, Canadiens on the same page?

By Elliotte Friedman

16. Kyle Connor credits his father, Joe, with a lot of his growth. Joe coached his son throughout minor hockey. But a conversation last season with Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler really got him pointed in the right direction. Coming off a spectacular freshman season at NCAA Michigan, the 2015 first-rounder made the Jets at the start of the year.

“After about the first 10 games or so, I thought I should be playing more and had a bad attitude,” Connor said Tuesday. “Wheeler pulled me aside and said, ‘You think you’ve proved yourself? I’ve been in the league nine years and I still have to prove myself every day.’ I appreciated that.”

He lasted 19 games before being sent to AHL Manitoba, where another challenge awaited.

“I was pretty pissed off, mad at myself for not performing the way I could. [Moose coach] Pascal Vincent showed me how it was all about the mindset.”

Connor finished strong with 25 goals in 52 AHL games, getting a one-game NHL callback. He scored against Nashville.

17. Connor didn’t start this year in the NHL, but he felt better about himself. It showed with five points in four Manitoba games. He’s back with the Jets, and impressively on the first line with Wheeler and Mark Scheifele. One of the biggest improvements is his play along the boards.

“Yes, I agree with that, especially in the offensive zone, staying on the puck. I learned you don’t have to ‘blow up’ the guy on the puck. Create battles. There’s a skill to it, too. I want to do it right because I’m excited to play with those guys. We play the same game, with a ton of speed and creativity.”

Winnipeg is a big “hockey sense” team. They chase it and value it in draft targets. So who is smarter, Connor or Scheifele? He laughs and pauses: “He’s a hell of a player.”

18. Last one for him: So how does a Wolverine feel when he turns on his television last weekend and sees Ohio State 35, Michigan State 0? Are you happy the Spartans are losing or mad the Buckeyes are winning? “Ugh, Ohio State…. Yeah I wanted MSU in that game.”

Philly.com http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/philadelphia-flyers-winnipeg-jets-steve-mason-saved- career-20171115.html

Steve Mason says Flyers saved his career; Jets host his old team by Sam Carchidi

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg goalie Steve Mason doesn’t know if he’ll start Thursday against his ex-Flyers teammates. But he does know he’s downplaying the matchup.

“Honestly, I just treat it like another game,” he told the Winnipeg Sun. “Whether I’m playing or not, I’m not sure. But I’m happy here in Winnipeg.”

Mason, who signed a two-year deal with an annual $4.1 million salary-cap hit in the offseason, said the Flyers saved his career, which had bottomed out in Columbus.

“I feel very fortunate to have been part of that organization for five years,” Mason said. “I made a lot of friends there. I enjoyed playing in front of a passionate fan base, just an overall great sports city. And I’m proud to have been a Philadelphia Flyer.”

Playing in the playoffs for the first time, he said, was one of his highlights.

“Looking back on it, there were a lot of positives. I’m just happy I was able to restart my career there and work with some really talented goalie coaches in Jeff Reese and Kim Dillabaugh. I owe a lot to those two.”

Mason, 29, was asked if it was difficult playing in Philadelphia, which has a reputation for being tough on .

“I didn’t really think much of that,” he said. “I just took it as a fresh opportunity and a place where you get to play in front of a sold-out building with passionate fans. For me, that was fun. Looking back on it, I was fortunate to have it.”

He said he wanted to return to the Flyers, but they “wanted to go in a different direction. … In the summer, there were no discussions, so you move on. I’m happy to be in Winnipeg.”

Mason allowed a total of 16 goals in his first three games with the Jets and became the backup to Connor Hellebuyck, 24, who is 9-1-2 with 2.32 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Mason has rebounded and played well in his last three appearances.

Overall, Mason is 1-3-1 with a 3.76 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage.

“I’ve felt a lot more comfortable in the last couple of starts here. It was a difficult transition,” he said. “The first few games didn’t go the way I would have liked.”

With Hellebuyck “playing the way he is, I haven’t been able to get back in the net [often],” Mason said. “I’ve just got to continue working hard and bide my time. I understand the situation I’m in. Whenever I do get into the net, I want to make the most of it.”

Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said he hasn’t decided which goalie will start Thursday, but he praised Mason’s work ethic and said he has a “real good handle on where he’s at. He doesn’t need his hand held.”

Breakaways Flyers rookie Nolan Patrick, who has missed the last nine games with a concussion, hopes to return to the lineup Thursday. Coach Dave Hakstol said he will make a decision after the morning skate. … At practice Wednesday, Andrew MacDonald skated for the first time since he injured his leg Oct. 21 against Edmonton. He will not play Thursday.

NBC Sports http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/11/15/patrik-laine-plays-mind-games-with-himself/

Patrik Laine plays mind games with himself

By Scott Billeck

WINNIPEG — Perhaps it was all just an elaborate ruse.

Patrik Laine, the Winnipeg Jets’ superstar forward and the proud owner of a shot every NHLer (save for Alex Ovechkin) would kill for, recently declared hockey to be a “hard” game to play and admitted that he had lost the confidence he previously held in his game.

You see, Laine, a very good goal scorer already at 19 years of age, had only scored four times in 11 games and had gone four games without a tally.

Simply, it didn’t compute in the sniper’s head.

Stricken with a brief inability to score, Laine felt some self-inflicted ridicule would do the trick.

“I think he had that whole thing, I’m not saying scripted, but he puts pressure on himself because I think he enjoys it in some ways,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice, adding that he believes Laine might just be smarter than us all. “He’s hard on himself. Kind of filleting himself in front of the world there, the hockey world, somehow gets him going, somehow drives him more.”

It’s all just a little macabre, no? Nevertheless, it worked.

Laine said Tuesday that to get out of his funk, he’d have to do one of his favorite things: shoot.

“That’s the key,” Laine said. “Because if you’re not shooting, you’re not scoring.”

It’s with this simple wisdom that Laine rattled off goals in five straight games after declaring hockey was harder than he appears to make it look.

His goal-scoring streak ended in a 4-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night, but Laine chipped in a helper to extend his point streak to six games.

“Maybe (my confidence is) not 100 percent but it’s getting higher all the time,” Laine said. “It feels like hockey – it isn’t getting easier, I mean, but it feels like a lot of fun.”

Meanwhile, Laine’s yet-to-be-written self-help book could revolutionize how athletes deal with low confidence.

The Athletic Winnipeg https://theathletic.com//155025/2017/11/14/what-is-the-problem-with--penalty- kill/?redirected=1

What is the problem with Winnipeg's penalty kill?

By Murat Ates

Six months ago I suffered my first concussion.

I was in a hurry, running up a narrow flight of stairs in an ancient Wolseley Avenue building, when I drove my head upwards into a low hanging beam. I like to think of myself in that moment as a real-life Mario, bashing bricks in search of coins, who forgot to raise his fist at the critical moment. Failing to protect myself, I fell to the base of those stairs and the past few months have been a challenge as a result.

The dizziness and nausea were expected – a lifetime of playing and following sports more than adequately prepares you for such symptoms. Other problems, like exhaustion or difficulty concentrating, were challenges I hadn’t necessarily anticipated but, with the benefit of hindsight, they make sense to me now. The real surprise was how my concussion affected my decision making.

Simple things. What to eat for dinner, which podcast to fall asleep to, whether or not I should try to repeat my pre-departure wallet/phone/keys patdown when I’m pretty sure I’ve already done it twice.

More complex things, as well. What to do about work, how to handle the increases in anxiety and stress, which kind(s) of healthcare to pursue.

When those seemingly difficult decisions suddenly increased, I began to feel two things:

1) Decision-making anxiety – the kind I used to read about in articles about Barack Obama or Mark Zuckerberg. In their cases, decision making anxiety was described as an accumulative stress and used as a pretense to explain why they wore the same set of clothes every single day. For me, it meant that I stressed out about minor life choices and consciously delayed major ones until I recovered. It’s a difficult thing, not fully trusting yourself.

2) A profound sense of relief when decisions were made for me. When should I book my flights to see my family out East? In time for my niece’s first birthday party. Which day was that? Oh right, I remember. I’ll be there on that day.

In short, asking my concussion-addled brain to make more decisions than it was capable of created mental fatigue I had never experienced before. As a result, I began to take special joy in any decision I could “set and forget.”

***

In a lot of ways, the position of head coach in the NHL is a decision-making marathon. Who to play. Which breakout to employ. And, the subject of today’s post: Whether or not a passive, two-forward stack penalty kill is likely to cut off enough cross-seam passes to make up for the fact it leaves the points essentially uncovered.

When you have so many decisions to make – and when they need to be made rapidly and assertively – I imagine that your brain takes a great deal of comfort from the little things you can set-and-forget.

This is why I understand when coaches become attached to unsuccessful players. If Brandon Tanev consistently hits his mark in the high slot on the PK and if he hustles like crazy every time you throw him over the boards, then he is exactly one less problem you need to worry about in your otherwise lengthy list of daily decision making. If the rest of your depth players seem like question marks and Tanev is someone you can set-and-forget, you might be excused for feeding him PK minutes despite his struggles.

That’s my working theory, at least. And, as I found out while watching every Winnipeg Jets 4-on- 5 penalty kill this season, Tanev and his teammates are disconcertingly good at hitting their scheduled marks.

***

Let me present to you the current state of Winnipeg’s penalty kill.

This table is the one piece of data I’ll show you that includes all states of penalty kill – the NHL’s basic standings chart. Everything else will be 4-vs-5 only.

Overall:

Don’t be fooled by the direction of the chart – as of Nov. 13, Winnipeg has the NHL’s sixth-worst penalty kill (26th best, if you prefer that wording.) Their penalty kill numbers where equally as bad in 2016-17 and 2015-16, so their current struggles are disappointing but not entirely unchartered territory.

I want to look at Winnipeg’s penalty kill in some detail today, so let’s get to it.

Shot Attempts:

Dead last. That said, we know from Tyler Dellow’s recent piece on Winnipeg’s 5-on-5 play that Paul Maurice prefers shot quality and expected goals to shot based metrics. Let’s look at the Jets’ PK through the lens of shot quality.

Expected Goals Against:

Also dead last. Remember that xG are a measure not just of how many shots are taken but also how likely those shots are to result in goals. Whatever Winnipeg’s penalty kill strategy, they’re getting killed by shot quantity and quality.

Here’s one last chart, put together by @LedgerSko via Corsica Hockey, which combines Corsi (shot attempts) with expected goals:

Visually, the effect is stunning. When it comes to giving up shots and shots with the highest chance of going in, Winnipeg is an island.

If that’s true, then how have they managed to reach sixth-worst instead of dead last in the overall table?

***

The point of this piece isn’t to rail against the Jets or just to say that their penalty kill is bad. The point is to discuss why it’s bad.

To begin this process, I want to show you two charts created for this piece by Dellow.

In looking at these charts, here’s what you need to know. (This preamble is mostly taken from Dellow’s piece on the NHL’s top power plays.)

At the top of the chart, there are three lines beneath the title.

The first line is pretty self-explanatory. (Time, goals against, shots against / 60 min, Corsi against / 60 min, PK save %.)

The second line is less so. •D% is the percentage of shots on the unit taken by defencemen. •Reb/60 is rebounds per 60 minutes. •Reb% is the percentage of shots on goal that don't go in that result in a rebound. •DZW% is Winnipeg’s defensive zone faceoff winning percentage.

The third line reflects Winnipeg’s goals, shots, and Corsi for while shorthanded as opposed to against.

Refer back to these as needed.

Here is Winnipeg’s PK vs. 3F2D power-play units:

Each circle is a shot, labeled L or R depending on whether the shooter is left or right handed. Yellow shots reached the net and were saved, teal shots missed the net, and black ones became goals.

Overall, Winnipeg has played 24.23 minutes against 3F2D power plays and given up 86.7 shot attempts per 60 minutes while doing so. Thanks to impossibly sterling .950 save percentage and two shorthanded goals, Winnipeg is actually outscoring opposing 3F2D power plays.

Recall from the bar graph I showed above, on the whole, Winnipeg gives up more than 130 shot attempts per 60 minutes. They, like most teams, do much better against 3F2D units than against 4F1D.

In Winnipeg’s favour, they’ve won a disproportionately high number of faceoffs in this sample. Faceoffs lead to clears, and clears lead to PK time played far away from Winnipeg’s net. Of course, this is a small sample and, as you’re about to see, Winnipeg doesn’t typically win that many draws.

Here is Winnipeg’s 4-vs-5 penalty kill vs. 4F1D units:

This is where most of the minutes have been played. It’s also where most of the damage has been done.

Against 4F1D power plays, Winnipeg gives up 93.2 shots per 60 minutes, or just over three shots against every two-minute penalty kill. Worse than that, they give up 149.1 shot attempts per 60 minutes, roughly five shot attempts per two-minute kill. Those numbers are league leading — and not in the good way.

There is some interesting information in this chart about how and why Winnipeg gives up so many shots. On average, a defenseman on a 4F1D PP takes 24.3 percent of the unit’s shots. At 29.4 percent, Winnipeg is giving up substantially more than that. It’s fair to infer that they leave the point open more often than the average penalty kill (At this point, I can hear those of you who have watched Winnipeg play hockey this season laughing. Bear with me.)

On average, a team of 4F1D produces 5.9 rebounds per 60 minutes. At 14.3 rebounds per 60 minutes, Winnipeg is giving up substantially more than that. Looking at rebounds another way, 11 percent of shots from a 4F1D power play will typically produce a rebound. Against Winnipeg, that number rises to 17.3 percent.

In short: Winnipeg gives up more shots, more shots from further away both as a total and as a proportion of all shots against, and more rebounds both as a total and as a percentage of total shots.

Visually, the shot attempts support this. Look where the shots are coming from – a perfect umbrella with disproportionate weighting at the point and in front of the net. Curiously, there is also a huge hole in the middle – a feature that is unique to Winnipeg’s PK in terms of how extreme it is.

What kind of PK formation would produce such a result? Let’s look at Winnipeg’s typical set-up:

This is what Winnipeg’s penalty killing formation has looked like in every single game so far this season. (The one time I saw a traditional box used past an initial scramble, it was Matt Hendricks’ first game as a Jet. He soon learned.)

In this image, Pittsburgh is using a 4F1D unit with Kris Letang at the top. Phil Kessel and , each on their off wing, are the players open inside each circle, Patric Hornqvist is at the top of the crease, while Evgeni Malkin is at the edge of the crease on Connor Hellebuyck's left.

Winnipeg’s players are focused on the zones as opposed to the Penguins. Here is each Jet’s responsibility with Pittsburgh having safely established possession:

F1: High slot/point. Not so much marking the pointman as guarding his shooting lane. Upon a pass to either wing, F1 drops to cover cross-seam pass attempts but is still responsible for the top.

F2: Low slot/wing. With the puck at the top, F2 is a secondary blocker, doing his best to guard the shooting lane. With the puck rotated to either wing, F2 guards against cross-seam passes. If the PP unit keeps a forward in the high slot, he’s F2’s to guard. Upon a pass to either wing, F2 will kick out towards the shooter:

D1: We’ll call D1 in this image. His job isn’t to guard either player in front – it’s to block off Crosby’s shooting lane as he receives the puck.

D2: While Morrissey is challenging the shooter, is left to cover in front. Note that he’s still playing a zone and, while Hornqvist is in that zone, Trouba is still responsible for Kessel’s shooting lane if Crosby is able to pass it across. Also, had Letang passed to Kessel instead of Crosby, Trouba would be challenging Kessel’s shooting lane as Morrissey has done here. Either way, Malkin is left alone.

Here’s what happens next:

As Crosby receives the pass, Morrissey and a sprawling Brandon Tanev have his shooting lane blocked. Crosby knows this so he attempts a pass across the ice to Kessel on the opposite wing. If the puck gets to Kessel, Pittsburgh has a deadly scoring chance with a moving goaltender and Kessel in terrific position to tee it up.

Here’s how the play ends:

Owing to his low position, Hendricks is able to cut off the pass and the Jets clear the puck down the ice.

This sequence demonstrates the two things that Winnipeg’s penalty kill does extremely well.

First, the Jets consistently put bodies in the way of any shooting option. In theory, at least two Jets are in position to block each of Pittsburgh’s three shooting lanes: Hendricks and Tanev are in Letang’s way at the top, Morrissey has Tanev helping him against Crosby in the circle, and Trouba would have had Tanev sliding over to help had Letang passed to Kessel instead.

Second, Winnipeg always has at least two players with sticks available to take away a cross- seam pass. In the case above, it’s F1 and F2. Other times, like you see against Columbus, it’s Winnipeg’s F2 and a defenseman:

That’s Artemi Panarin with the puck. Columbus’ 4F1D unit is similar to Pittsburgh’s except for one key detail: the Blue Jackets keep a forward in the centre slot instead of off to the side. In this case, Dmitry Kulikov is in Panarin’s shooting lane, and he combines with Tanev in the slot to guard against a pass into the middle.

It’s one thing to get yourself into a shooting lane, however, when you give the shooter time, staying in that lane is an entirely different challenge.

Here’s what happens next:

Panarin waits, then fakes a shot, which Kulikov can’t help but bite on. Having pulled Kulikov out of his shooting lane, Panarin rifles a wrist shot past a partially screened Steve Mason.

To Winnipeg’s great fortune, it hits the bar and goes out of play.

Here’s the thing, anyone can go through 51 penalty kills and find moments where the penalty killing team looks out of position. The point I want to make with this Blue Jackets scoring chance is it took place with Winnipeg executing exactly the system that was asked of it.

Here is one last look, this time against Dallas.

As this sequence begins, the Stars have won a faceoff and then comfortably gained possession in the Jets' zone. John Klingberg has the puck at the point and, as usual, has nowhere to shoot but a wide-open passing option at each wing.

Winnipeg is set up in its usual way. Andrew Copp lightly pressures Klingberg at the point, while Adam Lowry backs him up and has his eye on the centre slot. Each Jets defenceman is positioned in what we can safely presume are going to be Dallas’ shooting lanes.

Klingberg doesn’t have much to shoot at, so he rightly defers to one of his two wide open options on the wing. In this case, it’s Alexander Radulov to Klingberg’s right and your left.

This is what Radulov is looking at as he receives the puck:

Once again, the Jets are doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. Lowry has moved with his man in the middle towards Radulov at the half-boards, Copp has dropped far enough to get a stick in the way of a cross-seam pass, Morrissey is in Radulov’s shooting lane, and Trouba is in the slot between Dallas’ other potential shooter and the net.

Unfortunately for Winnipeg, all it takes is a tiny bit of movement to open up a lane:

Morrissey is in Radulov’s shooting lane and, as with Pittsburgh with Malkin, Winnipeg leaves a forward alone beside its goal. This time it’s Jamie Benn. Meanwhile, Lowry has rotated towards Radulov at the half wall.

As usual, Klingberg is wide open at the top.

Klingberg receives the return pass from Radulov, leaving Lowry and Morrissey both out of position. There is no way Lowry can make it to Klingberg in time to block a shot and Morrissey is left to defend the no man’s land that used to be Radulov’s shooting lane.

Klingberg shoots:

The puck goes wide and bounces out in front. Jamie Benn, who Winnipeg’s system deliberately ignored just a moment ago, bangs it home.

When you watch 51 penalty kills back to back, you find patterns. Based on the lanes Winnipeg fills time and time again, I believe that all four Jets players were doing exactly what was asked of them on this play. In theory, each Stars shooter had somebody in his way. In practice, it only took two passes – from Klingberg to Radulov and from Radulov back to Klingberg – to open up a shooting lane. As Klingberg shot, it didn’t matter that he was the furthest Star to the net. He had an open lane and a man in front who was open by design.

To me, the philosophy behind this formation is clear: Winnipeg is happy to concede shot quantity in the name of preventing quality chances. In theory, it’s a calculated risk.

In practice, the Jets are getting pillaged in terms of quantity and quality.

If the Jets are going to have any success killing penalties this season, they’re going to have to either greatly reduce the number of free shots they allow or start doing a miraculously better job of clearing the inevitable rebounds they give up. Given the system they have in place, I’m not optimistic. And, if you’ll pardon the concussion pun, it’s giving me a headache.

TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINKS) http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/boynton-jets-are-a-fun-hockey-team-1.916746

Boynton: Jets are a fun hockey team

TSN Hockey Analyst Nick Boynton joins Andrew Paterson and Rick Ralph in studio. They discuss the Arizona Coyotes problems this season, Connor Hellebuyck's performance and the Jets roster construction. http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/kidd-hellebuyck-was-sharp-throughout-1.916615

Kidd: Hellebuyck was sharp throughout

TSN 1290 Jets analyst Trevor Kidd discusses the Jets win over Arizona and if goalies enjoy playing against a former team. www.winnipegjets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-wives-roll-up-their-sleeves-to-help-families-fight-cancer/c- 292977048

Jets' wives roll up their sleeves to help families fight cancer by Jason Friesen / WinnipegJets.com

Referees may be able to make sure a hockey game is played fairly, but there are no referees when it comes to cancer. Unfortunately, that means it can pick on anyone, including children. The Winnipeg Jets wives were looking to fight back and brighten the days of some of those kids with cancer by raising awareness and money for pediatric clinical trials in Manitoba with an event in mid-October.

The event was part of the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Fights Cancer campaign, in partnership with the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative and CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. Three children with cancer and their families joined several women from the Jets wives and girlfriends group in painting pottery at the Brush Fire Ceramic Studio. The crew of Jets wives included Brittany Little, Brittany Mason, Emily Byfuglien, Camilla Enstrom, and Tina Kompon.

Sherelle Kwan, community events manager at CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, was thrilled about the event, and excited about how the partnership between True North and the Foundation has grown over the years.

"How can you not be touched when people want to come out and give their time?" said Kwan. "The fact the hockey wives and girlfriends are here and they're painting these plates, and that these kids get to have that once in a lifetime opportunity with their families is pretty special to witness."

That sentiment was shared by the children and their families, who had smiles on their faces from the moment they walked through the doors.

"This is huge," said Jason Schellenberg, whose three-year-old daughter Brenna was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer in July of 2016. "There's a lot of money that's raised for cancer and these funds going directly to pediatrics is huge."

While the kids got to choose their own pieces of pottery to paint, the Jets wives all painted hockey jersey-shaped ceramic plates. After the plates are finished, the Jets players will sign them, and the plates will be auctioned off at the Hockey Fights Cancer game on November 27 against the . This is the 3rd year the Brush Fire fundraiser has taken place.

"It's fun to be a part of it, but also super important," said Camilla Enstrom. "If we can do anything to help out and raise some money for CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, then we want to help as much as we can."

Just like the families, the Jets wives couldn't keep smiles off their faces either during the afternoon.

"It means a lot to see smiles on the kids' faces," Enstrom said. "They're going through a lot and if we can do something to make them forget about it even for a second, then it's totally worth it."

But at the end of the day, it was the families who just couldn't stop saying thank you.

"We're so thankful for the research that has gone into pediatric cancer, and it wouldn't happen if it weren't for people and organizations that do things like this," said Alicia French, the mother of 4-year old Maia, who was diagnosed with leukemia in April. "And just to get to be involved in special events gives you things to look forward to and makes you feel a little bit special."