2014-2015 Winnipeg Jets Season Recap

2014-2015 Winnipeg Jets Season Recap

2014-2015 Winnipeg Jets: Brand New Liftoff

The Return of NHL Hockey to Winnipeg

The 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs were the last time a team by the name of “Winnipeg Jets” made its presence felt. The original Winnipeg Jets folded up their tents and moved south to Phoenix, becoming the franchise later known as the Arizona Coyotes. Ever since then, devoted hockey fans in Winnipeg were determined to bring back an NHL team by way of relocation. While it took many years to return to the NHL, the fans’ hard work paid off. Struggling to be a consistent draw at the gate, the Atlanta Thrashers folded up their tents and moved north to become the new version of the Winnipeg Jets, starting with the 2011-2012 NHL season.

Regular Season Record

In the 2014-2015 NHL season, the new Winnipeg Jets went 43-26-13 (overtime losses) with 99 points, finishing 10 points behind the St. Louis Blues in the Central Division. The Jets went 23-13-5 on home ice at the MTS Centre and 20-13-8 on the road.

In head-to-head play, the Jets went 3-0 against the Edmonton Oilers, 3-1 against the Dallas Stars, 3-0-2 against the Colorado Avalanche, 3-1-1 against the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild, 2-0 against the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-1 against the Arizona Coyotes and 2-2-1 against the St. Louis Blues. Most months of the regular season were good for the Jets, as they went 8-4-3 in November, 7-3-3 in December, 7-5-1 in January, 8-6 in March and 4-0-1 in April.

Key Contributors on the Ice

Forwards and Defense

Right winger and Assistant Captain Blake Wheeler had 26 goals and 35 assists for 61 points, with 10 power play assists, 4 short-handed goals and 6 game-winning goals on 244 shots. Left winger and Captain Andrew Ladd had 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points, with 9 power play goals, 10 power play assists and 6 game-winning goals on 224 shots. Center Bryan Little had 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points, with 9 power play goals, 9 power play assists and 3 game-winning goals on 148 shots.

Right winger Michael Frolik had 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points, with 3 power play goals, 4 power play assists, 3 short-handed goals and 4 game-winning goals on 206 shots. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien had 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points, with 5 power play goals and 12 power play assists on 209 shots. Center Mathieu Perreault had 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points, with 5 power play goals and 7 power play assists on 129 shots. Center Mark Scheifele had 15 goals and 34 assists for 49 points, with 10 power play assists on 170 shots. Left winger Adam Lowry had 11 goals and 12 assists on 104 shots, and left winger Evander Kane had 10 goals and 12 assists on 126 shots.

Goaltending

Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec was the primary option guarding the net for the 2014-2015 Winnipeg Jets. He went 22-16-8, allowing 108 goals on 1,353 shots in 2,838 minutes, with 1,245 saves, a .920 save percentage, a 2.28 goals against average and 5 shutouts. Goaltender Michael Hutchinson was the secondary option, going 21-10-5 and allowing 85 goals on 986 shots in 2,138 minutes, with 901 saves, a .914 save percentage, a 2.39 goals against average and 2 shutouts.

Winning Streaks That Fueled a Playoff Push

Two Five-Game Winning Streaks

During the regular season, the Jets posted a pair of five-game winning streaks that helped carry them into the playoffs. The first began with an 8-2 win over the Florida Panthers on January 13 and ended with a 4-0 shutout of the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 21. The second began with a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 14 and ended with a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on March 23.

An 8-2 Rout of the Panthers

The 8-2 home win over the Panthers on January 13 was a special moment for Jets fans, who by then had enjoyed a few seasons with the return of something they lost 15 years before 2011. In the 1st period, Mathieu Perreault scored 7:24 into play, then scored again on a power play at 11:24. At 3:39 of the 2nd period, Dustin Byfuglien scored, and Florida finally got on the board at 5:15 with a goal by center Dave Bolland. Byfuglien answered with another goal at 6:23, and Perreault put a stamp on his great night by scoring 2 more goals at 15:23 and 16:32. The 3rd period featured a goal by defenseman Jay Harrison at 4:26, followed by Florida’s 2nd goal from right winger Brad Boyes at 5:39. Finally, Evander Kane capped off a wonderful night of Winnipeg hockey with a goal at 13:47. The full season breakdown is available on Hockey-Reference.

A Brief Playoff Run and a New Identity

The 1st Round of the 2015 Western Conference playoffs was a cup of coffee for the Winnipeg Jets, as they were swept 4 games to none by the Anaheim Ducks. Still, the 2014-2015 Winnipeg Jets were clearly a brand new liftoff for a hockey market starving for a new opportunity on the sport’s biggest stage. Compared to what they were as the Atlanta Thrashers, these Winnipeg Jets found an identity and played with more motivation, thanks in part to a rejuvenated fan base.