Maurice says Jets must improve defensively

The deflection by David Perron (57) gets past Winnipeg Jets' goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. John Woods/CP

WINNIPEG — Coach Paul Maurice says the Winnipeg Jets have to play better defensive hockey.

As training camp got under way today with player physicals, he says until the Jets play better in front of netminder Ondrej Pavelec, they can’t really assess their starter.

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Pavelec’s numbers were pretty much the worst in the NHL for starting netminders last season as the Jets again finished out of the playoffs.

He let in the most goals at 163 and his .901 save percentage was tied with Martin Brodeur at the bottom of the 30 players with 39 games or more.

This is Maurice’s first full season as head coach since taking over from Claude Noel when the Jets were in a mid-season slump in 2013-14.

The Jets hit the ice Friday and play their first exhibition game Monday, when the Minnesota Wild visit the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

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