Jets Notebook: Ehlers must adjust game to slay playoff demons
No matter how electric Nikolaj Ehlers’ game is in the regular season, the playoffs are often about simplifying and executing. Jacob Stoller digs into the star’s post-season struggles and much more ahead of the Jets’ Game 2 showdown.
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Jets need more from Nikolaj Ehlers in the playoffs.
And that sentiment stretches beyond this post-season, where Ehlers has recorded just one assist in three games.
In 40 career playoff games, the four-time 60-plus point scorer has recorded just 15 points (0.38 points per game) — a substantial drop-off from his regular-season production (0.77).
But what changes? Why does this keep happening?
Ehlers’ bread and butter — creating chances off the rush, weaving around the offensive zone — isn’t a recipe for playoff production. This time of year, the number of rush chances decreases, and the importance of cycle and forecheck opportunities amplifies.
The playoffs are all about simplifying your game and executing. For all the talent he has, Ehlers’ game is chaotic. He often tries to do too much — be it with an ambitious pass attempt, or a solo twirl around the net in the offensive zone that eventually amounts to nothing — when really, less is more.
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Look at how Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor have produced in these playoffs. Both have been able to weaponize finding open space to make plays, while also generating offensive zone pressure via the cycle.
Whenever Ehlers is with Adam Lowry, he seems to find a way to simplify his game. Jets coach Scott Arniel has used that tandem in spurts this year, as recently as the third period of Game 1 on Wednesday.
Lowry is able to open up space for Ehlers, while the latter’s speed goes a long way in helping Lowry and Appleton get into the offensive zone. From there, those two do a good job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone.
Heading into Game 2, Ehlers is slated to line up alongside Vladislav Namestnikov and Cole Perfetti. A trio that, despite a sluggish first half of the year, found its mojo in the second half of the season.
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If that line can produce, the Jets have a viable scoring threat beyond Scheifele’s line. If it falters, Winnipeg’s a one-line team. It’s that simple.
As much as the Jets need his game-breaking talents in a series, this could be a career-defining stretch for the Danish star, who is a pending free agent.
Even with the cap raising, are teams going to pony up north of eight million dollars for a regular-season merchant?
Time’s running out on Ehlers to slay his playoff demons.
Morrissey Returns, Jets’ top power-play unit reunited
Josh Morrissey is slated to return to the lineup.
Winnipeg’s number one defenceman was a regular participant in line rushes Friday morning, lining up alongside Dylan DeMelo on the top-pair and at the point on the power play.
Morrissey’s impact at five-on-five goes without saying, but his return to the team’s top power-play unit — which hasn’t been together in quite some time — could be pivotal for the Jets.
Winnipeg went 0/4 on the man-advantage in Game 1.
“Dallas has a real good kill, really aggressive,” Arniel told reporters after Friday’s morning skate. “I just like (that) those five have some cohesiveness as a group, all year long being together and having success. Really need them to be a big, big threat, when it gets back to where our power play is dangerous every time it steps out there. It really puts the opposition on their heels about taking penalties.”
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New-look bottom pair
Putting Haydn Fleury and Colin Miller on the third pairing adds a new wrinkle to Winnipeg’s lineup.
Against St. Louis, it made sense to have Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley playing in that role, given the physicality of the series. But with the Jets needing to add more offensive punch to their lineup, playing Fleury and Miller — albeit in sheltered roles — makes sense, given their respective toolkits.
Miller has a bomb of a shot and can get pucks through traffic. Not only will that help on the second power-play unit, but it adds another threat to Winnipeg’s five-on-five attack. He’s no slouch defensively, either.
“He’s got good feet, gets into people and has a little bit of an edge to his game,” Arniel said.
Fleury’s mobility will go a long way in helping the Jets exit the defensive zone.
“He’s real mobile, he can skate out of trouble,” Arniel said. “Another guy that can be a part of that rush, a part of what we’re talking about getting after Dallas here and getting on our toes.”
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Projected Lines
Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi
Ehlers – Namestnikov – Perfetti
Niederreiter – Lowry – Appleton
Tanev – Barron – Iafallo
Morrissey – DeMelo
Samberg – Pionk
Fleury – Miller
Hellebuyck
Comrie
