Winnipeg Jets continues his quest for the central division title as they end their short trip to Utah Hockey Club Saturday in Salt Lake City.
With a place after the season that has already been dressed, Jets (52-20-4, 108 points) leads the Dallas stars with only four points in the Central Division race, although the stars have a game in hand and ride on a seven-game victory to keep pressure on Winnipeg.
Winnipeg brushed off that pressure Thursday while he blamed Vegas 4-0, which snapped an eight-game regular season losing image to the Golden Knights.
“We really got off, all the lines, (defense), everyone had to run immediately,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel after the victory in Las Vegas. “When you can get a couple of goals as it makes it sure they change their game a bit.”
Points first have been an important key for Jets all season. They have a record of 32-3-3 when they first walk on the board.
“The messages in our room and from (Arniel) are almost about the process and take care of it and the results will follow,” said Jets Captain Adam Lowry on Thursday. “Really satisfied with the result. (We will) review it … adjust some things and get back on it.”
In the meantime, Utah limited Los Angeles to only nine shots during the first two periods on Thursday evening. Unfortunately, the kings needed only two shots in the third – the goals made 44 seconds apart by Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore – to secure a 4-2 victory.
The loss dropped Utah (34-30-12, 80 points) nine points behind Minnesota Wild, which has the last joke card in the Western conference. Although not yet mathematically eliminated, their playoffs are now narrow.
“I don’t think you change it,” said forward Dylan Guenther when asked how to approach the last stretch of the playoffs which is now very questionable. “If we were last or first place, you always play for something. These next seven matches can get us momentum in the next season, so they are all big.”
After taking a puck on the face Tuesday against Calgary, Guenther played Thursday night with a bubble beetle to protect his two black eyes and nine seams.
That level of robustness was no surprise to his coach.
“There are not many guys in any dressing room in the NHL at this point of the year that has no wrong,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “It’s a tough sport. There are tough players. They go through a lot and they require a lot of their bodies over 82 games … (Guenther) and others, (I have) lots of respect.”
Jets have to do with several other injuries. Forward Nikolaj Ehlers is day to day after being hit by several pucks in Thursday’s play in Las Vegas. Center Rasmus Kuppari has re -entering the concussion protocol, while the Gabriel Vilardi wings is week to week with an upper body injury and has not yet practiced. Defender Neal Pionk skates again after missing the last ten games with an unclear injury, but there is no timeline for his return.
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