Every Friday throughout the season, NHL.com Director and Senior Fantasy Editor Pete Jensen will examine the latest trends and storylines around the league through the lens of NHL EDGE Puck and player tracking statistics. Today he dives into the Winnipeg Jets’ season opener winning streak.

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The Winnipeg Jets are flying out to start the season with seven straight wins, and the success of their elite players, turnovers on the power play and limiting high-danger chances are the main reasons why.

According to NHL EDGE statistics, the Jets are tied with the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers for the most mid-range goals (13) in the League this season as of Friday, led by the forward Kyle Connor, who is tied for second in mid-range goals (four). ) behind Artemi Panarin (five). Connor’s frequent teammate Mark Scheifele is tied for second in high-danger goals (four) behind Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers (six).

The Jets only outscore their opponents 31.9 to 29.7 on average, ranking eighth in shots per game but tied for 11th in most SOGs allowed per game. Although their shot attempt percentage (48.9; 21st) and 5-on-5 shooting percentage (8.7; 18th) are middle of the pack, they are still playing their signature stingy style under new coach Scott Arniel, who was promoted during the offseason. following the retirement of Rick Bowness.

Winnipeg is tied with the Minnesota Wild for the best goals-against average (1.86) in the NHL, and two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck has had support from his defense, led by Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk , from the start. Only the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin (plus-13) has a better goal differential among goaltenders than Hellebuyck (plus-12).

Hellebuyck has played in six of his first seven games and has a .940 save percentage and one shutout. According to EDGE stats, Hellebuyck faced 38 high-danger shots and allowed four goals in those areas, ranking seventh in high-danger save percentage (.895). It’s also important that Hellebuyck ranks outside the league’s top 10 in high-danger shots allowed, behind fellow high-end starters Sergei Bobrovsky (51), Shesterkin (48), Juuse Saros (47), Jacob Markstrom (45) and Jeremy Swayman. (42), among others.

Limiting those high-danger chances is crucial for Hellebuyck, who was hit by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs after a stellar regular season. Hellebuyck faced 55 high-danger shots on goal in Winnipeg’s five-game loss to Colorado and stopped only 42 of them (13 high-danger goals allowed); his high-danger save percentage (.764) in the playoffs ranked below the league average (.781).

A drastic improvement from last season is Winnipeg’s power play, which leads the NHL with 42.1 percent (8-for-19) on Friday; the Jets ranked 22nd with the man advantage (18.8) last season. One adjustment Arniel made early is putting winger Nikolaj Ehlers (nine points, two on the power play, in seven games) on the first unit, and also having forwards Gabriel Vilardi (limited to 47 games last season ; also plays on PP1) and a healthy Cole Perfetti (limited to 71; plays on PP2) has given the Jets much more scoring depth.

The Jets have nine players with multiple power play points this season, including their category leader, Scheifele (four); three members of Winnipeg’s second power play unit, Perfetti, Pionk and Vladislav Namestnikov, are tied for second (three PPP each). We’re certainly early in the season, but the Jets appear fully entrenched in the playoff picture and reportedly have some unfinished business after last season’s early exit.

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More: NHL EDGE Stats for the Winnipeg Jets