The Winnipeg Jets’ lengthy winning streak was halted on Monday. They’ll bid to start a new one when they visit the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night.
Winnipeg’s 16-game regular-season streak, dating back to last season, was snapped by a 6-4 loss to Toronto. The Maple Leafs scored the game’s first four goals and the Jets couldn’t fully recover.
“It was a tough game for us. Obviously got behind it, four nothing there with almost two periods to play, and felt like we did a good job of battling back,” defenseman Josh Morrissey said. “Make it 4-2, to sort of get our legs going, and then obviously, letting another one. And we never quit throughout the night and we’re 8-1 for a reason.”
Winnipeg’s eight victories this season included three in overtime. The Jets won at Calgary 5-3 on Saturday before the home loss to Toronto.
“It’s great that we’ve got a great start but we really haven’t done (anything), to be honest with you,” defenseman Dylan DeMelo said.
Kyle Connor tried his best to do something about the big deficit on Monday. He had two goals and two assists, giving him 14 points for the season. Both of his goals came on the power play.
Connor’s next point will be the 500th of his career.
“I think there’s been a real focus of just having attack mindsets, a lot of pucks to the net,” he said of the power play. “Don’t overpass. And, you know, you got a lane change of sides. You got a little ice in front of, you know, get the pucks on net. I think we were very direct (Monday).”
The Red Wings are looking to put more pressure on the opposition. They have been outshot 182-106 over the last five games, an average of 15.2 per contest.
Detroit had leads of 1-0 and 2-1 against visiting Edmonton on Sunday but lost 3-2 in overtime.
“Throughout this year, we’ve seen it multiple times where we have a lead and we’re just kind of playing defense,” forward Patrick Kane said. “It’s just tough to defend like that all the time. It wears on you. It’s tough on you, energy-wise. It’s so much easier to play offensively with the puck in their end. We’ve got to get that a little bit more in our game.”
The Red Wings have lost their last two games following a three-game winning streak.
“The first period was real good, we were on top of them and the second was OK,” forward Andrew Copp said of the loss to the Oilers. “The third, we were defending, and against a team like that, you keep giving them offensive zone possession they’re going to break through at some point. We want to be responsible defensively, but we have to attack a little bit more.”
Copp had a hand in both Detroit goals, scoring one and assisting on the other.
“I want to contribute offensively,” he said. “That’s a big part of my game. Going to wing (Sunday), it’s a big part of who I am, and being able to play up and down the lineup, playing center and wing and both special teams.”
