3 Takeaways From Jets’ Gritty 4–3 Win Over Devils

Connor did not register any goals, but his presence was felt throughout the game. The winger registered two assists, one of which was the primary assist, and was the engine that drove the game forward. Connor’s vision and speed gave Scheifele and Vilardi the opportunity to create scoring chances off the rush, and the Devils struggled to keep up with the Jets’ speed through the neutral zone when this trio was on the ice.

The thing that stood out the most about this game, however, was the timing of the scoring. Each time the Devils seemed to be making a push, the best players on the Jets responded. This ability to respond to scoring chances rather than chase the game is something that defines good teams, especially on the road.

In a game where the Devils outshot the Jets 29-26 overall, the best players on the Jets were the difference-makers. Scheifele and Vilardi registered two points apiece and were among the game’s three stars.

Jets’ Depth Scoring and Second-Period Surge Made the Difference

The second period ultimately decided this game, and it was a testament to Winnipeg’s depth.

After Lenni Hämeenaho’s equalizing goal to make it 1-1 midway through the first, Winnipeg took control of this one in the second period, scoring three goals in just over 13 minutes of action. In addition to Vilardi’s goal, goals from Cole Koepke and Nino Niederreiter gave Winnipeg a 4-1 lead and forced New Jersey to play catch-up.

Koepke’s goal at 7:51 of the second period was a big one, as it was a five-on-five goal off a clean wrist shot and came after the Devils were showing signs of life early in the period. Niederreiter’s goal came later in the period off a Winnipeg forecheck and presence in front of the net.

This is where Winnipeg separated itself. The Jets didn’t rely solely on their stars; they rolled multiple lines that contributed offensively. New Jersey, meanwhile, leaned heavily on its top players for scoring, with Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier accounting for the Devils’ late goals. “I thought our second period was a lot quicker, we got out of our end, did a better job of forcing (New) Jersey to go back to their goal line,” said Arniel after the game.

The statistics illustrate that. Winnipeg outshot the Devils 14-5 during the second period and played their best stretch of hockey during that 20 minutes. This was the territorial advantage that Winnipeg would need.

When you are a team with playoff aspirations, you need contributions from other than the first line. On Tuesday, Winnipeg proved it can win games with depth, not just with its superstars.

Defensive Commitment Helped Winnipeg Survive a Late Push

The third period wasn’t exactly pretty, but it was effective.

After Bratt scored on the power play with just over four minutes left in the second period, and Hischier made it 4-3 with under two minutes left in regulation, the Devils went on the attack looking for the equalizer. New Jersey took 15 shots on goal in the third period; Winnipeg took just four.

But instead of giving in, Winnipeg went back to their defence. They blocked shots, took away shooting lanes, and made it difficult for New Jersey to get second chances. The Jets finished with 21 blocked shots on goal; the Devils finished with 11.

Faceoffs also came into play. The Jets won 52.1 percent of their faceoffs, which helped them control play in key situations late in the game, especially when they took defensive zone faceoffs after icing calls.

Special teams were a mixed bag. The Jets went 0-for-2 on the power play; the Devils went 1-for-2. But Winnipeg’s penalty kill was enough, and their commitment to defence at even strength helped them hold on for the win.

Games like this matter in the standings. They aren’t highlight-reel victories, but they test a team’s composure, structure, and ability to close. Winnipeg showed all three traits down the stretch.

Final Thoughts

While it wasn’t necessarily a perfect win, it was a telling one nonetheless.

The Jets showed that they are able to win games in a variety of ways, from having elite-level talent, to having depth scoring, to being able to lock things down defensively late in games.

While New Jersey made it interesting late, Winnipeg never got nervous, simply relying on structure and experience to close things out.

With Scheifele, Vilardi, and Connor continuing to lead the charge offensively, and others contributing, it would seem that the Jets are building a well-rounded team. If they’re able to pair that with late-game defensive solidity, it’s easy to see this kind of effort leading to success as the season moves forward.

It was a tough road trip for the Jets, but they were able to bank this kind of win, which is precisely what good teams do.