The Winnipeg Jets didn’t show up as a team stuck in a four-game losing streak when they arrived at Wells Fargo Center. However, they ended up leaving with yet another loss, further prolonging their streak.
Defenseman Dylan DeMelo expressed to reporters after the game that the team prides itself on being prepared right from the start, whether it’s during puck drops, faceoffs, or focusing on details. Despite this mindset, the Jets were caught off guard by the fast-paced Flyers team in the opening 20 minutes of the game, where they were outplayed and outscored 3-0, essentially sealing their fate early on.
Captain Adam Lowry acknowledged that the team had strayed from their usual dominant structure in recent weeks, describing their performance as “unacceptable,” a sentiment echoed by DeMelo.
However, DeMelo also highlighted the Jets’ resurgence in the latter periods of the game, where they limited the Flyers’ opportunities and managed to hold them to just seven shots for the remainder of the match.
Despite their efforts, the Jets struggled to find the back of the net, a recurring theme during their losing streak, with only four goals to show for it. They narrowly avoided being shut out for the third time in four games.
In a bid to spark some offensive firepower, head coach Rick Bowness made adjustments to the lineup, including moving Nikolaj Ehlers to the top line alongside Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi, who was demoted to the fourth line during the game. This trio has a history of producing results when together, but Bowness hasn’t consistently utilized them, which raises questions, especially during a scoring drought.
Bowness experimented further by pairing Ehlers with Kyle Connor and Scheifele towards the end of the game, although he remained non-committal about sticking with this combination for the next game.
Considering the team’s struggles with breakouts, particularly evident in the recent game, Bowness could consider giving Ville Heinola, a skilled puck-moving defenseman with offensive capabilities, a chance to contribute, especially with Brenden Dillon sidelined due to suspension.