The Winnipeg Jets have been shorthanded 63 times this season, the most times in the league.
They’ve spent 33:04 more time shorthanded than they’ve spent on the power play, also the most in the league.
While that lack of discipline hasn’t been fatal, thanks in large part to the ninth-ranked penalty kill (84.1%), it has cost them on occasion. Like Saturday at home to Philadelphia, when the Flyers scored twice on the power play and the Jets lost, 3-0.
Last night in Minnesota, the Jets were shorthanded six times in a 5-3 loss. And though most of their penalties came after the Wild had taken a 5-1 lead, if there was any chance of a comeback, the penalties negated it.
The Winnipeg Jets, down 5-1, have taken three penalties in less than three minutes. #mnwild
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) November 11, 2015
We mostly mention this because discipline was an issue last season for the Jets -- an issue that carried through into the playoffs, where the Ducks went 3-for-11 on the power play on their way to a four-game sweep. Anaheim might have lost Game 1 of that series, if not for a bad penalty by Mark Scheifele.
Jets were dominating the game against the Ducks last night. Had the better of the play until Scheifele took a dumb penalty.
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) April 17, 2015
Jets coach Paul Maurice has spoken about the need to be smarter. After a loss to the Islanders on Oct. 12 -- one in which the Jets took four penalties in the first period -- he said: “You can be excited about your penalty kill I guess, but that’s not helping you win games.”
The Jets are in Dallas for a game tomorrow. The Stars have the No. 2 power play in the league.