Jets 5, Blue Jackets 2: Scheifele's Milestone Helps Muscle

Every so often, a game feels like it belongs to one player before the puck even drops. This one had that air for the Winnipeg Jets. Mark Scheifele became the franchise’s all-time leader in games played. Last night, he hit 898 games, all in Winnipeg blue. Then went out and put a stamp on the night with three primary assists. Forget nostalgia; that’s being present.

The Jets played fast early, leaned into their structure, and didn’t let a Columbus team coming off a late night in Montreal get comfortable. Adam Lowry opened the scoring the way he always does — straight ahead, no fuss — and the Jets built from there.

The Jets Took Advantage of a Tired Blue Jackets’ Team

By the time the third period rolled around, the Jets felt like a team that had figured out exactly where Columbus was vulnerable. Josh Morrissey jumped into space for one goal, Neal Pionk hammered home another on the power play, and Kyle Connor found a sliver of daylight at an impossible angle. Really, isn’t that what Kyle Connor does? Backup goalie Eric Comrie didn’t have to be spectacular, but he was steady. His team helped him by keeping the play at the other end of the ice. It wasn’t that Columbus didn’t have their pushes, but the Jets answered every one of them with a little more polish and a lot more purpose.

Three Jets Key Points

Key Point One: Mark Scheifele Runs the Show: On the night he set the franchise games-played record, Scheifele registered three primary assists and controlled the tempo. His leadership was expressed through his play.

Key Point Two: The Jets’ Defense Put Up Some Offense: Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk each produced a goal and an assist, showing the Jets’ blue line is at its best when it joins the rush in addition to just defending it.

Key Point Three: Kyle Connor’s Scorer’s Instincts Are Second to None: I’ve written about Connor before. He can score from all over the ice. Last night’s goal came from a sharp angle to remind everyone why he’s one of the NHL’s most deceptive shooters.

Final Thought from the Jets’ Perspective

If you’re looking for signs that the Jets can build something this season, this game offered a few. The team was organized, opportunistic, and confident. Those are the kind of characteristics that turn a good week into a strong month and into a strong season.