Jets end preseason with a road win in Calgary

On a night when the Winnipeg Jets were outshot 38-16, it would be easy to suggest that the 5-3 victory over the Calgary Flames was the result of Connor Hellebuyck stealing one for his team.
However, a closer look at the numbers from the preseason finale showed that the high-danger chances were dead even at five, according to Natural Stat Trick, and the Jets made those chances count.
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice, while Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Mark Scheifele added singles to help the Jets to a 4-1-1 record in the preseason - the first time they've hit four wins in the exhibition season since 2018.
"This is a shot-volume team. They shoot from everywhere," said Jets head coach Rick Bowness of the shot discrepancy. "They probably got 10 shots in the first period they just gained the blue line and threw it at the net. We will give up that. We will."

It took over four minutes for the Winnipeg Jets to get their first shot on goal, but they made it count. Dylan DeMelo's point shot from the right side went off Dubois and past Jacob Markstrom to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal of the preseason for Dubois, with the other assist going to linemate Cole Perfetti, as well as DeMelo.
"I should probably get a lottery ticket," laughed DeMelo following his two-assist night. "It's always nice to contribute a little bit. Hopefully I can do that a little more this year, and something that I like to have in my game."

Then, on their third shot of the opening frame 4:11 later, Ehlers banked one in off Markstrom's left shoulder and in. He beat Noah Hanifin to a puck that came off the end boards after Adam Lowry's original shot from the top of the left circle went wide and popped out on the other side.
Tyler Toffoli cut that lead in half with 4:55 remaining in the first, as he finished off a rush chance with Jonathan Huberdeau and Elias Lindholm, beating Connor Hellebuyck with his first of the preseason.
The Jets got that back quickly though, as they cashed in on their first of four power plays on the night. Dubois got behind the Flames defence and faked backhand, before flipping a forehand just under the bar for his second of the game. That made it 3-1 with 2:43 on the clock in an eventful first period.
"We capitalized on our chances," said Scheifele, who sent Dubois in on the partial break. "I think we're all we're all happy to end that and training camp off and on a winning note."
Blake Coleman was able to get the Flames back within one exactly five minutes into the second, but Connor restored the two-goal cushion 4:27 later. He pounded a one-timer from the left face-off dot - on a set-up from DeMelo who had pinched down into the offensive zone - for his fourth goal of the preseason in just his third appearance.

In fact, Connor had a multi-point outing in every exhibition game he played, finishing with eight points.
Connor factored into Winnipeg's next goal as well, a shorthanded marker that pushed the lead to 5-2. The speedy forward set up Scheifele on a rush chance, sending a saucer pass across the crease to Scheifele who tapped it past Markstrom.
Scheifele played less than five minutes shorthanded all of last season, but has seen some penalty killing time in the preseason.
"I haven't played much of it, but the coaches have done a great job of helping me and teaching me positioning and stuff like that," Scheifele said. "It's something that I take very much pride in."
It also gave the Jets five goals in 10 shots.

Nazem Kadri scored with 3:37 to go to pull Calgary within two, but that's as close as the Flames would get, as the final minutes got a bit chippy between the two clubs. Both Cole Perfetti and Dominic Toninato being sent into the boards on questionable hits.
It didn't matter who was on the ice though, as everyone jumped in to help their teammates.
"As long as you're in there in numbers and getting in the mix. That goes a long way," said DeMelo. "We had Ville (Heinola) in there a few times on Wednesday at home. We don't want that guy fighting or anything. But to see him in there, and the guys, it's important for this group and the cohesiveness and sticking up for each other."
With the preseason in the rear-view mirror, the Jets now head to Banff for team-building and practice time before returning to Winnipeg early next week.
The home opener is set for October 14.
"We're excited to get going," said Scheifele. "Thank goodness preseason is done."
Buckle up.
ICE CHIPS
Pierre-Luc Dubois left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury and didn't return.
Thankfully it was just a precautionary measure.
"He's had something lower body that's been bothering him a little bit that flared up," Bowness said. "This morning he was fine, yesterday he was fine. It flared up a little bit in the first so it was precautionary. I'm not concerned. He'll be ready to go Friday night."