WINNIPEG — Now comes the hard part.
After wrapping up a five-game homestand 4-1-0 with a convincing 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, the Winnipeg Jets — three points above the Nashville Predators — are heading out on the road needing one point in order to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Standing in the Jets’ path to the postseason are the Minnesota Wild, who just so happen to hold a 3-0 edge in the head-to-head series to date, going into this fourth and final matchup.
If you were looking for drama, you’ve come to the right place.
“One point,” said Jets right-winger Mason Appleton, who chipped in a goal and an assist Monday. “Obviously, you can kind of get help from other teams but you want to control your own destiny and that’s where we are right now. We’ve got two games. One point gets us in and we’re going to head to Minny expecting to win and we’re going to play a winning hockey game.
“We know where we are in the standings. … It’s a dogfight and it’s the best time of the year. We’re excited.”
This game was never in doubt, not even after the Jets allowed a goal to Erik Karlsson just 20 seconds into the contest.
The Jets replied 51 seconds later and never looked back, leaving them in prime position to control their fate, with two regular season games remaining against Central Division opponents.
“We’ve still been in the driver’s seat throughout that time, so we take care of our business, that’s what we have to do,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey, who had a goal and two helpers. “I think we’re playing free; we’re playing aggressive and confident and on our toes, and that’s what makes us a great hockey team.”
For all of the discussion about the Jets’ 20-9-1 start and the uneven play that followed in the next 40-game block, this group is once again playing confidently and trying to finish things off on a high note as they work to extend their season beyond Thursday’s regular season finale against the Colorado Avalanche.
“We’ve been dealing with the noise since January, right? So, like I said, it’s a change of perspective now,” said Morrissey. “At that point when we came back (from a 1-2 road trip at the end of March), we had seven games left and we just have to go after it. There was no time to wait now or anything like that.
“So, we’ve been battling all year and we got a huge two points (on Monday). Obviously, we still control our own fate and we’re going to take our business into this road trip.”
Jets head coach Rick Bowness didn’t care to engage in a debate at the podium about whether or not his team was peaking at the right time or showing signs of the group that was battling for top spot in both the Central Division and Western Conference in mid-January.
That discussion would also fall under the outside noise category.
“Well, there’s only two games left, we need a point. So peaking, not peaking, all we’ve got to do is focus on that game (Tuesday) night. We know the importance of that game, we know the importance of the next game,” said Bowness. “Right now we’re feeling good about ourselves. Again, it goes back to the balanced scoring that we’re going to get. The D scored again , which is huge for our team. But again, (Tuesday) is going to be a different animal than playing San Jose. (The Wild) are going to be a lot tougher opponent.
“Really, all the rest, we won four out of five, that’s all great. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is how we play (Tuesday). That’s what matters.”
With those three points, Morrissey is up to 16 goals and 75 points in 77 games this season, a remarkable campaign by any measure.
In his scrum with reporters, Morrissey showed his appreciation for Sharks blue-liner Erik Karlsson, who scored twice to become just the sixth defenceman in history to record a 100-point season – and the first since Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers had 102 in 1991-92.
“Yeah, it’s incredible. He’s been doing it for a long time, and he’s been elite for a long time,” said Morrissey. “Going back to sort of my time in junior and stuff like that, watching him a ton when he was in Ottawa and just the poise he has with the puck. Obviously, the plays he makes, his ability on the blue line and then to jump up on the rush, like I said, it’s amazing. A hundred points is pretty rare company, of course, and to do it now is pretty unreal.
“So, hats off to him and, for me, he’s a guy that I’ve been watching play a long time and it’s cool to compete against him and I’m happy for him.”
Bowness has been around the NHL game for five decades as a player and a coach. He also shared his appreciation for the season Karlsson has put together, though he added a caveat that comes with playing for a team near the bottom of the standings.
This wasn’t Bowness grandstanding in an effort to convince voters for the Norris Trophy to cast a ballot for Morrissey, he was simply pointing out something to consider in the broader picture — for context.
“(Karlsson) is a special player,” said Bowness. “You know what? There’s a lot of guys in this league that are worth the price of admission. He’s one of them. He’s fun to watch. Highly skilled. You love his confidence, you love his swagger that he plays with. He’s not afraid to make any plays, not afraid to get up in any rush. You’ve got to love the way he plays.
“I love his creativity. I love his confidence and his swagger that he plays with. But again, at some point, you’ve got to do that on a really good team that has a shot at the Stanley Cup.”