This year’s Winnipeg Jets are consistently inconsistent. They have played some good hockey and some bad hockey in their first 12 games, where they went 6–6–0, ranking twenty-first in the NHL.
On any given night, it’s hard for fans to predict which version of the Jets will show up.
Will it be the version that shut out Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in their best defensive game of the season?
Or will it be the version that let the L.A. Kings skate virtual circles around them the very next game in arguably their worst defensive game of the season?
2019 Heritage Classic
The 2019 Heritage Classic was played on Saturday, October 26 at Mosaic Stadium in Regina with more than 33,000 fans in attendance. As a lifelong Blue Bombers fan, it pains me to commend Saskatchewan, but I must tip my hat to the city of Regina, the event organizers, the players, and the fans in attendance.
“It was great,” said Bryan Little when he was asked to summarize the experience after having missed the 2016 Heritage Classic due to an injury. “It was definitely frustrating last time to watch from the sidelines and not getting to experience it. I had this one circled on the calendar and it definitely lived up to everything.”
On the ice, it was Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm who opened the scoring in the second period with a controversial power play goal. Late in the third period, Winnipeg answered with a power play goal of their own when Josh Morrissey found the back of the net.
The game ended in overtime when Bryan Little scored after a nifty pass from Kyle Connor to win the game 2–1.
Connor Hellebuyck’s Brilliance
Connor Hellebuyck has saved 93.3 percent of shots against, the third best save percentage in the league. Although the save percentage is usually more of an indication of how the team is playing than the goalie, Hellebuyck is the exception and is performing well despite the inconsistent play from his smaller and inexperienced defence.
The Jets have played enough good hockey in the first 12 games to provide fans with hope. If the defence can reduce some of the chaos from their inexperience, and if Connor Hellebuyck can continue his strong play, the Jets may be able to squeak into the playoffs.
Buckle up, Jets fans. This rollercoaster of a season is just beginning.