The Winnipeg Jets put their perfect record on the line when they visit the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Winnipeg, the NHL’s last unbeaten squad, has won all seven games this season. The Jets’ current win streak is one shy of matching a franchise record, set twice last season.
But as Winnipeg prepares to finish a three-game road trip, it hits the ice having been handed a wake-up call in its last outing.
The Jets surrendered a two-goal, third-period lead but recovered to beat the Seattle Kraken 4-3 in overtime on Thursday.
“Overall we found a way to win and that’s the most important thing, but it wasn’t our best,” said forward Nino Niederreiter, who scored twice at Seattle and has four goals during his current three-game scoring streak.
As the saying goes: good teams find a way to win, and Winnipeg’s success must be appreciated.
The Jets have outscored opponents 31-13, tallied five wins after falling behind 1-0 and boast three overtime victories.
Winnipeg has won 15 consecutive regular-season games going back to the 2023-24 campaign.
“As much as I’m disappointed on how we played (in Seattle), you still have to look at the fact that we’re doing a lot of good things to find ways to win,” coach Scott Arniel said.
“And we’ve got to bank points. If you look at the scoreboard (Thursday), Dallas won, (Minnesota) won … everybody in our division keeps winning, so you’ve just got to keep piling up points.”
Multiple Jets hold a hot hand, including forward Kyle Connor, who has collected five goals and three assists in a season-opening, seven-game point streak.
The Flames sit atop the Pacific Division, and return to action after suffering their first regulation loss of the season in Thursday’s 4-2 home defeat against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Although Calgary pulled within one shot of drawing even after a furious third-period push, the damage was done with a sluggish stretch earlier that led to a 3-0 deficit that could not be erased.
Despite their lackluster first half of the game, the Flames are focusing on what they did to mount a comeback attempt.
“We all have the confidence in here (that) if we play that way the whole game, we’ll get the results,” forward Ryan Lomberg said after Friday’s practice.
“You want to win every game, but you’re gonna lose games. It’s a fact. It’s about playing the right way. If we play an amazing game, a full 60 (minutes) the right way, and we lose, we can wake up the next morning and feel good about ourselves.
“This time of year, it’s about dialing our game and making sure we’re doing the right things. Later on the year, that’s when the results will start to steamroll … and we’ll start to string some wins together.”
With that said, the NHL is about results, and Calgary is well aware it faces a tough task with the Jets in town, particularly if Connor Hellebuyck is in net.
“Runs like those, you feel you can’t lose,” Flames forward Nazem Kadri said. “They’re on a pretty big heater right now. We’ve got to rely on our systems, slow them down a little bit. Their goalie’s a big part of it, so we’ve got to get some shots through.
“I enjoy playing the best teams, against the best players. That’s what brings the best out of you.”
–Field Level Media