One for the road

Winnipeg Free Press

16-05-2025

DALLAS — There is one more riddle left for the Winnipeg Jets to solve if they are to extend this memorable season, again.
Those plucky Jets took the first step in seeing another series go the distance, but in order to achieve that next goal, the organization will need to do something they haven't done since April 27 of 2023.
That's the last time the Jets came away victorious in a Stanley Cup playoff game that wasn't played on home ice.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots to shut out the Dallas Stars Thursday night at Canada Life Centre and force a Game 6.
Just like they were going into Thursday's convincing 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars, the stakes are clearly defined.
The three wins required to advance to the Western Conference final against the Edmonton Oilers have been reduced to two.
Although the Jets earned a reprieve from their summer vacation, there's another important piece of the puzzle left to complete, one that has proven to be rather confounding.
For a team that led the NHL in road wins with 26, how in the world can one explain the nine-game road playoff losing streak the Jets are currently mired in?
For those keeping score at home, that stretch of misery includes a 0-5 record in 2025.
So while there is plenty for the Jets to build on after matching shutout wins in Games 2 and 5, they were outscored 8-3 at American Airlines Center in Games 3 and 4.
'I'm just worrying about this year. I know, and I've been here for it, too,' Jets head coach Scott Arniel said before the team departed for Texas. '
Every streak ends, whether it's a good one or a bad one. And we're planning on doing that (on Saturday). Can't do anything about what's all behind us now. It's a case of us making sure that what comes on the ice (in Game 6) is the best product we can bring. Continue what we did (Thursday) night. There's a lot of real positives there. And build on that and just put that forward.'
Following the Game 5 victory, Arniel said he would be looking for a carbon copy of Thursday's effort when the clubs face off again.
There are no residual effects being felt in the Jets' camp relating to the road drought, even though many of the core pieces have been together for the entirety of the road losing skid.
Like all of the other areas they've worked so hard to combat, this is simply the next one to tackle.
'Doesn't matter what happened in the past,' said Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who posted a 22-save shutout in Game 5. 'We got one game ahead of us and we just need to focus on winning that one.'
Hellebuyck and the Jets have no other choice than to channel all of their energy on that next task.
It's been a calling card of the Jets this season, that combination of working through the game review and turning the page, while routinely showing they can rise to the occasion, even when the pressure is mounting.
It's also true that the Jets played their best road game of this postseason just a few days ago and, while the 3-1 loss didn't bring any gratification, there were pieces of the template that were evident throughout the course of the contest.
Were it not for losing the special-teams battle 2-0, the Jets managed to do a lot of things well in that outing.
Things that they did even better on Thursday in finding a way to extend the series with their most complete effort of the spring: having a strong start and scoring first, even if it only happened in the second period; winning the special teams battle 2-0.; finding some valuable secondary scoring that had dried up a bit of late.
Lastly, Hellebuyck found a way to outduel Stars goalie Jake Oettinger for the second time in five games.
'We have so much confidence in Connor, (in) what he does, what he means for our team,' said Jets captain Adam Lowry. 'In games like (Thursday), he's certainly the reason why we have that belief.'
There was a sense of pride as the Jets spoke about delivering a rock-solid effort under difficult circumstances, but there wasn't a sense of achievement either.
This was merely the next step in the process for a team that still has championship aspirations.
FRED GREENSLADE / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele said Friday the team wants to give it their all in Game 6 to get back in front of their fans.
'It's important that we don't just hang our hat on this one, but we come back in the next one attacking and we see areas where we can make improvements and put our best foot forward,' said Lowry.
'We're still down 3-2 in this series, we haven't accomplished anything. We want to keep playing and we want to come back here.'
Should the Jets get the job done and make it back to Winnipeg for Game 7, they'll turn up the temperature on a Stars team that hasn't scored on Hellebuyck inside Canada Life Centre since Game 1, when Dallas earned a 3-2 triumph to steal home-ice advantage from the Presidents' Trophy winners.
Can the Jets finally return the favour?
They've got no other choice.
Otherwise, all of the strides that were taken and the incremental growth that has been on display throughout the 100 games the Jets have played dating back to the exhibition schedule will lead to another far-too-long off-season than this group is interested in having.
For a team that has rewritten the franchise record book and taken massive steps towards rewriting the narrative surrounding the lack of playoff success for much of this core since the remarkable run to the Western Conference final in 2018, there's still plenty of items left on the to-do list.
'It's the toughest time of year, and I thought we stepped up,' Jets left-winger Kyle Connor said after Game 5. 'But obviously, the job's not done.'
To get the job done, the Jets will require another effort that is passenger-free.
The star players need to deliver another round of rock-solid performances and the supporting cast has an opportunity to create another moment they'll never forget.
'We've got a great group in here, a lot of character. We just have a good team. That desperation can bring the best out in you,' said Jets centre Mark Scheifele, who was on the receiving end of a punch to the chops from Jamie Benn in the third period on Thursday. That resulted in the Stars captain receiving a US$5,000 fine for roughing — which is the maximum penalty under the collective bargaining agreement.
'It was hard for me to understand what was going on. My face hurts. There's not much I can really say in this situation.
'I'm not much of a fighter so I can't really remember (the last time he had his bell rung by a punch). It was tough, I couldn't really protect myself. My arms were pinned at my sides, so definitely didn't feel good.'
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
What would feel good for Scheifele and his teammates is having an opportunity to play in another Game 7 on Monday night at Canada Life Centre.
'Yeah, obviously, we haven't had a road win (yet), but (we've) just got to treat this like it's Game 7, have that desperation and give it our all to get back in front of our fans again,' said Scheifele.
'We've liked our game and that's obviously very important. Obviously, we got a big win in front of our fans (Thursday) night, so we just want to continue to do what we're doing and stick to our structure and our game plan and go from there.'
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Ken WiebeReporter
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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