The losses only stop for the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets’ unbeaten streak is now at six games after a 5-1 defeat to the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
The game was not nearly as skewed as the score would indicate, but the Jets had no puck luck, hit numerous crosses and just could not round off their chances in another defeat.
The game was tied after the opening period, but the Canucks scored four unanswered goals in the final 40 minutes with JT Miller scoring his second career hat-trick in the win.
“We’re just a little late with everything right now and it hurts us,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “Wins and losses are not going our way now, but we have dealt with many, many things.
“We can go through a list, and it’s called excuses, and I’m not in a hurry to start using excuses, but fragile is not a word I would use to describe this group. We had a lot to do this year. ”
The Jets missed four defenders with Josh Morrissey, Dylan DeMelo, Logan Stanley and Dylan Samberg all out of the series.
Jets interim head coach Dave Lowry tampered with his forward lines and his power play unit throughout the game, but still the goals did not come.
“I thought we made some mistakes,” Lowry said. “I thought we did very good things. I know the score and that. They get two power play goals from clashes, and break to the net, and they took advantage of their opportunities.
“I do not think it’s frustration, I think it’s a disappointment. These guys are great pros and they are very proud of their game. It is clear that we as a group are disappointed in the results at the moment. ”
Connor Hellebuyck started his 13th in a row, but he was far from sharp in the loss, and it may be time to give him a night off.
“We are not pointing fingers at any individual,” Lowry said.
Defender Johnathan Kovacevic made his NHL debut, the fifth player on the Jets to appear in their first NHL game this season. He had one shot on goal, but a few gifts in a little over 10 minutes of ice time.
“For his first NHL game and he didn’t have a lot of practice with us – I thought he handled himself very well,” said Lowry. “I thought he was trying to make plays and that is what we encourage. We have some young guys in the back. We want them to make plays. He turned the puck over a few times. It will be with a young player. “
Jets defender Neal Pionk limped off the ice after being hit by a shot in the third period. He stayed on the bench but did not play a shift again.
The win gave the Canucks the season whip after their third and final encounter of the campaign.
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The visitors struck first at the power play just ten seconds after Ville Heinola was penalized for cross-checking. The Canucks won the game, the shooter worked below the goal line and Brock Boeser found Miller alone in the slot, beating Hellebuyck.
Winnipeg would equalize just over two minutes later. Wheeler’s shot from the slot was blocked in part by the cane of a Canucks defender, which caused the shooter to flutter just past Spencer Martin into the goal. But Andrew Copp was there to bat the shooter from the air and into the net for his 12th goal of the season.
Miller would regain the lead for Vancouver just over five minutes after the second. He took a cross-ice pass from Boeser and wired a wrist-blocking block that beat Hellebuyck.
Minutes later, Miller had a chance for the hat-trick on a Jets power play, but Hellebuyck blocked it, as well as a good follow-up chance from Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
The Jets did not generate much on that man advantage, but earned another power play immediately thereafter. They had a few chances and although they did not score, it did transfer some momentum for a long time, which resulted in a great chance for Copp in the lock, but he had a shot of slapped the crossbar off.
That miss was costly because not long after, Miller found his hat-trick, hitting Hellebuyck five-hole on a shot from the tee that he should have stopped to make it 3-1 Vancouver after two periods.
The Jets needed a strong start for the third, but did the opposite. Pierre-Luc Dubois took a penalty 61 seconds into the third and just seven seconds into the ensuing power play, Brock Boeser hitting a loose shooter near the fold home to make it 4-1 for the Canucks.
The Jets got a power play of their own later in the third and again created a bunch of chances, but could not beat Martin.
Adam Lowry played in his 500th career game and tried to inject some life into his team by fighting Luke Schenn.
It did not work. The Canucks made it 5-1 thanks to a snip from Elias Pettersson.
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Hellebuyck scored 28 times in the defeat, while Martin stopped 33 shots for his first NHL victory in his career.
The Jets will now head to St. Louis on Saturday. Louis is going to put an end to their lost ways.
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