The Winnipeg Jets are 14-1 on the season after beating the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Saturday, making them the best team in the league and the division, and as of now, there are not too many holes in their game. Coming into Saturday, the game against the Stars could have been considered a measuring stick game of sorts. The Stars were 8-4, fresh off a victory against Chicago and two losses against the Panthers in Finland, not playing their best but still legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
When the final buzzer sounded, the final score was 4-1, but the score flattered the team from Texas, and that’s just the truth. The Jets dominated play from start to finish, and go into this week five points clear of the division and 12 points ahead of the Stars. Are the Jets really this good? If they fall off, how far will they fall?
Winnipeg Jets Are No. 1, Not Just in Standings
By now, we all know that the 14-1 Winnipeg Jets are the best team in the NHL. Maybe not when the dust settles, but for right now, on Nov. 11th, they are the best. They started the season with an eight-game winning streak, lost one game, and then followed it up with a six-game winning streak, which they are currently on. In addition, with their 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday, they are now the only team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 wins. Their dominance, however, goes beyond the point column.
They have 67 goals, which is the most in the NHL. That works out to 4.47 goals per game. Defensively, the Jets have allowed 31 goals, 2.07 per game, which is second in the NHL behind the New York Rangers, who have played two fewer games than Winnipeg. Their powerplay is 1st in the NHL, clocking in at 41.9%, which is an astronomical number no matter how “early” it might be in the season. Their penalty kill drops off from the rest of these numbers but is still 13th in the league at 82.4%. Lastly, they are 6th in shots per game with 31.3%.
This might be obvious after reading the previous numbers, but they’re not just beating teams, they are destroying almost everybody. Nine of their 14 wins have been by at least two goals, and seven of those nine wins have been by three or more goals. They have allowed two or fewer goals in nine games, and have allowed more than three goals only twice. All of these stats tell you that the Winnipeg Jets are dominating the NHL, and the eye test does nothing but agree. The next four games will be a huge test. They play the Rangers, Lightning, and then the Panthers twice, and the first three are on the road. If they go 3-1 in that stretch, there will be no denying what the numbers are already telling us.
Leaders are Leading by Example
In the summer of 2023, many people thought that the Winnipeg Jets were heading towards a rebuild, or a retooling at the very least. One of the main reasons for that was the future of Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck. They are the two leaders on the team, and Hellebuyck is arguably the best goaltender in the world. Both of their contracts were up, and almost everyone thought they were on the move. To the surprise of many, both of them signed eight-year contracts, and the Jets went on to have one of their best seasons in franchise history.
Heading into this season, the Jets were projected, again by the “many”, to take a major step back. Clearly they’ve done the opposite, and it’s been on the backs of the leaders on the ice. Scheifele has seven goals and 19 points, and Connor Hellebuyck is 11-1, with a .935 save percentage, the best in the NHL, and 1.83 goals against average, which is the best among starting goaltenders.
Aside from those two players, the rest of their roster is pulling their weight too. Kyle Connor has nine goals and 19 points, and Ehlers has nine goals and 18 points. 11 of their players already have double-digit point totals, including their captain Adam Lowry, who is quietly one of the best third-line centers in the league.
Final Thoughts
After a terrific 23-24 season, the Winnipeg Jets were embarrassed by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, specifically Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. This year, the Jets have come back with a vengeance and there’s no sign it will slow down anytime soon. The next four games will prove to be a test, but even if that stretch is rocky, the Jets have put themselves in an excellent position.
The term “it’s early” is getting thrown around a lot, rightfully so, and not just about Winnipeg. However, let’s just look at the facts. The Jets have 28 points. The top three teams in the division automatically get into the playoffs. The Minnesota Wild are second with 23, and Dallas is third with 16. As good as the Wild have been, it’s more logical to assume they will fall off than to think that way about the Jets. The fourth-place team as of Nov. 11th is Utah, who have 15 points. 13 points is a lot of ground to make up, and a lot of ground to lose. Based on all of that alone, it’s safe to think that the Winnipeg Jets have already locked themselves into a playoff spot. There’s a lot of season left, but for now, the Jets are on top, and it’s not close.
