Ehlers’ versatility on show with added responsibilities

LOS ANGELES — Nikolaj Ehlers made sure that his actions have matched his words.

The Winnipeg Jets winger made it clear during training camp that his uncertain future wasn’t going to be a topic of conversation that he cared to discuss much over the course of the season.

Although he’s been asked about it on several occasions, the answer stayed the same.

His focus is entirely on the season at hand and the rest would take care of itself when the time is right.

Driedger, Anderson-Dolan join Jets for western swing

The accolades keep coming in for Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

He was named the NHL’s third star of the week Monday after a pair of games in which he went 2-0-0 and surrendered just one goal while making 47 saves.

Hellebuyck, 31, currently leads all goaltenders in wins (43), shutouts (7), goals-against-average (2.01) and save-percentage (.925) and is aiming to become the third netminder in NHL history to finish a year on top of all those categories.

The two-time Vezina Trophy winner is certain to add a third to his mantle this year and is now viewed as one of the favourites, along with Edmonton Oilers centre Leon Draisaitl, to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Impact of Jets’ bench boss undeniable

After waiting patiently for more than a decade to get his second chance as an NHL head coach, Arniel has not only led the Winnipeg Jets to first overall in the league through 74 games, he’s also a leading candidate for the Jack Adams award.

Niederreiter had personal cheering section this week

How far would your best buddies be willing to travel to watch you work?

If the answer is anything less than 7,000 kilometres, Jets forward Nino Niederreiter has you beat. The veteran forward had his own personal cheering section at Canada Life Centre this week as a group of long-time friends from Switzerland made the lengthy trek to Winnipeg to take in a four-game homestand.

“It was awesome. A lot of fun with the games, and we’ve had a lot of fun getting together with Nino,” the unofficial ringleader of the group, Gian Gilli, told the Free Press on Sunday afternoon during the first intermission of an eventual 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

Gilli and the others — Tom Eichholzer, Reto Rietberger, Andrea Basig and Sven Probst — weren’t hard to find if you attended any of the games at the downtown rink. They were all wearing bright red Switzerland jerseys with Niederreiter’s name and number on the back and quickly became fan favourites.

Jets close out four-game homestand with three straight wins

When the result is in doubt, go hard to the blue paint.

Mason Appleton put the theory into practice early in the third period by driving to the net and producing the game-winner in what turned out to be a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday at Canada Life Centre.

That allowed the Jets to close out a four-game homestand with a 3-1 record, which expanded the lead for first overall over the Washington Capitals to three points — and moved their gap over the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference to six points (though both the Capitals and Stars have a game in hand).

“It’s just a proven method that we’ve had success with all year,” said Appleton. “We know our recipe and our recipe works. It’s one of those things where you just have to keep believing in that and not try to make changes and do things differently. There’s a reason why we win and there’s a way we play and the longer we can stick to that the better our results are.”

Jets mailbag: Pondering playoffs, ice time, beating bottom feeders

From injuries, callups and lineup deployment to ideal matchups, motivation and ghosts of the past, Free Press hockey writers Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre are here to answer your Jets questions.

Jets aim to take care of business as they enter final stretch

Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry had a couple of wishes Saturday as he celebrated his 32nd birthday.

“I would like a little more space, you know,” he said with a chuckle following a full team skate at the Hockey For All Centre.

Lowry was talking about the current distance between his club and the scorching-hot Dallas Stars, who began the day six points behind the Jets in the race for top spot in both the Central Division and the Western Conference.

Dallas was playing Saturday night in Seattle followed by a rematch on Monday inside the same rink. Lowry admitted he texted his father, Dave — an assistant coach with the Kraken — asking for a little help.

Hellebuyck notches seventh shutout as Jets dominate Devils 4-0

Just keep winning.

It’s easier said than done, of course. With little to no help coming from the out-of-town scoreboard lately, it may be the only way for the Winnipeg Jets to ensure they don’t get passed during the final sprint to the NHL’s regular-season finish line.

The hockey club took another big stride Friday night, relying on all the elements that have made them a legitimate Stanley Cup contender to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-0 at Canada Life Centre.

“A complete team effort,” said goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped all 24 shots he faced for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season which also breaks his own franchise record.

Dubois given clean slate with Capitals

A weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe

Spencer Carbery wasn’t about to be bogged down by what happened in the past with Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Of course, the head coach of the Washington Capitals had interest in learning about why things had gone sideways in three other organizations for the talented centre.

After the former Winnipeg Jets pivot was acquired by the Capitals in an off-season deal with the Los Angeles Kings for goalie Darcy Kuemper, Carbery let it be known he not only believed in Dubois but would be counting on him to deliver in a variety of important situations.

Jets next task holding first place in final 10 games

Alex Iafallo kept his words per minute down to a minimum, but he certainly got his point across just as effectively.

The Winnipeg Jets winger had just been asked a question about what the focus of the final 10 games of the regular season was going to be and he kept his answer concise.

“Just keep our aggressiveness, don’t change a thing,” said Iafallo. “Obviously, the playoffs are after that, so we’ve got to keep doing things right and do them well.”

The Jets certainly did a lot of things well during Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win and they’ll be looking to try and carry that over into Friday’s matchup with the New Jersey Devils.

Stanley, Iafallo make case for lineup moves

Logan Stanley has done this dance before.

For a multitude of reasons over the course of his career, Stanley has been in and out of the Winnipeg Jets lineup, whether it’s related to injury or performance.

When you’re jockeying for position on the depth chart, having the right attitude and putting in extra work is the rule, not the exception.

“We’ve got a good team and lots of good players, so it’s going to take everyone down the stretch, and you just want to stay sharp,” said Stanley, who is tracking to be in the lineup as the Jets face the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

Forward Nikolaj Ehlers scoring at a career-best pace for playoff-bound Jets

WINNIPEG - Nikolaj Ehlers knows he’s on the verge of a career-high season for points, but a big celebration isn’t around the corner.

The speedy Winnipeg Jets forward views it as part of his evolution since joining the NHL club in 2015-16 after being drafted ninth overall in 2014.

“It would mean a lot, of course, but I also think the reason that I’m at this point is because I don’t think too much about that stuff,” Ehlers said after Thursday’s practice.

“When you focus on what you can control, when you work on your things, when you let the game teach you and just keep doing your best, those things will come eventually."

Jets answer the bell in heavyweight bout

Scott Arniel stood at the podium and gave an honest answer, the joy of victory pulsing through his veins.

The head coach of the Winnipeg Jets wasn’t making a bold declaration or getting ahead of himself.

That’s just not the way he operates.

But after a scintillating 3-2 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals in the battle between the two top teams in the NHL right now, Arniel couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when discussing the prospect of these two teams getting back together again in June for a high stakes, best-of-seven series.