SEATTLE – A video session on Thursday morning showed the exact areas the Winnipeg Jets want to be better in when they face-off the Seattle Kraken in a rematch Friday night.
“We gave them a lot of odd-man rushes or turned the puck over at their blue line and they were coming back at us,” said Vladislav Namestnikov. “As long as we clean that up, we’ll be in good shape.”
Tuesday’s 4-3 setback at Canada Life Centre was one of those nights when the five-on-five stats leaned in Winnipeg’s favour. Natural Stat Trick had the high-danger chances at 8-7 in favour of the Jets, the expected goals were 2.78-1.41, and the overall shot attempt differential was 58-41.
Still, a rush chance against the Jets put the Kraken (28-23-11) ahead 1-0 in the first, and a shorthanded breakaway put Seattle up 2-1 in the second.
“We have to play better than we did last game regardless of what the analytics tell you,” said head coach Rick Bowness. “We just went over that with the video today. We have to tighten up the rush, we have to pick up their D coming up on the play, just little things like that.”
It was the second straight win for Seattle, who earned a victory in Calgary the night before. Heading into action on Thursday night, the Kraken are six points back of Nashville for the final wildcard spot in the West
“They’re fighting for their lives,” said Brenden Dillon. “They’re already playing playoff hockey. St. Louis was a similar situation where they have to pretty much sprint to the finish line. Seattle, even though they’ve traded Alexander Wennberg, they still feel they can make the playoffs and they still feel confident.”
The Jets (39-17-5) continue to battle for top spot in both the Central Division and Western Conference and head into their second to last back-to-back on the schedule. They’ve earned two straight wins on the road, and know if they want to make it three, they have defined areas to improve.
“We’ve talked about it and corrected it,” said Dillon. “(We’ve) seen in black and white what makes us successful and what doesn’t.”
DECISIONS TO BE MADE
Slowly but surely, the illness working its way through the Jets dressing room is finding a way to make game-planning a bit more challenging on the coaching staff.
While Thursday’s practice was officially optional – players who didn’t skate will likely hit the ice for Friday’s morning skate – Connor Hellebuyck seems to be the most recent Jet to get hit with the flu bug.
With that in mind, Bowness said the decision on who starts which game on the back-to-back will be made tomorrow. That will give the Jets time to assess how Hellebuyck is feeling.
Hellebuyck has won six of his last nine games and leads the National Hockey League in save percentage (0.922) and goals-against average (2.29). Laurent Brossoit is 7-1-1 in his last nine starts, including a 17-save performance in Winnipeg’s 5-2 win in Buffalo.
Other absentees at practice were Mason Appleton (who had two assists on Tuesday), Adam Lowry (one goal and one assist two days ago), and Gabriel Vilardi – who won’t play in either of the two games this weekend.
DEADLINE DAY NEARS
The NHL’s official trade deadline is March 8 at 2 pm CT.
A lot of teams, the Jets included, have already made moves ahead of that day. Sean Monahan has eight goals and nine points in his 13 games as a Jet, and has been tremendous in the face-off circle and on the power play since his arrival.
Even though the deadline falls on a game day, Bowness’ message to his team is to control what they can – and that’s it.
“There isn’t much you can do. There is so much out of your control,” said Bowness. “You block out the noise as much as you can. It can’t be a distraction, we have a big game tomorrow night and a big weekend coming up. I’m hoping the players are focused on that.”
