The Winnipeg Jets got off to a much hotter start to the 2024-25 season than expected, winning their first eight games and ultimately going 9-1-0 in October.

Related: Jets: 10 notable numbers through 10 games from 2024-25

The Jets will play 14 games in November and there are three keys to success for them to maintain their position atop not only the Central Division and Western Conference, but the entire NHL.

1: Get special teams firing on all cylinders

The Jets’ special teams looked really special in October and got off to a fast start and stepped up in key moments under a new pair of assistant coaches.

The revamped power play is off to an absolutely scorching start, running at an NHL-best 44.83 percent rate, scoring 13 goals in 29 opportunities (and that’s not even taking into account the multiple goals they have scored either on delayed penalties or just after). expired penalties.) Both units created by Davis Payne look dangerous and get quality chances almost every time they are on the ice; the new top unit with Nikolaj Ehlers in the bumper position has done well in generating new opportunities for one-timers, point shots and quick passing plays that move the opposing goaltenders laterally.

PPPERFETTI pic.twitter.com/5WhUXfvZhV

– Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) October 27, 2024

This is quite different from last season, when the 22nd-ranked power play converted at just 18.75 percent was too often predictable, passive and static.

Likewise, the shots on goal appear improved compared to the Regime which finished 21st last season, killing 80.95 percent of its situations to rank 13th (it took a 10 percentage point hit in allowing two goals in three situations during the 6-2 victory). against the Detroit Red Wings.)

Dean Chynoweth brought much more aggressive tactics to the table and he deployed Kyle Connor, Ehlers and Mark Scheifele when they were down, in addition to the bottom six guys more generally considered “penalty killers”. The choice to use talented players in hopes of generating more shorthanded chances with turnovers and speed the other way led to the Jets’ first shorthanded goal of the season on October 26 against the Calgary Flames when Connor scored one to complete a two-on-one. a rush.

While the power play percentage is bound to come back to reality at some point, as long as the combined percentages continue to be 100 or higher and both schemes continue to build confidence, they will be in good shape.

2: Remember the importance of 5v5 play

Strong special teams can propel teams to victory, of course, and that’s exactly what they’ve done for the Jets on multiple occasions this season. While it is very positive that special teams are winning them games instead of costing them, the team must also remember that excellent five-on-five play has been the cornerstone of its success and identity .

A combination of timely scoring while allowing little defense at five-on-five was why the Jets were able to post 52 wins, 110 points and finish second in the Central last season despite their special teams being inferior average for long periods of time. Scoring five goals at five-on-five against the Red Wings was a good sign because coming into the game, The Jets’ expected goals per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at five-on-five was just 2.1, 30th in the NHL, and their expected goals per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at five-on-five was 2 .49, 15th in the NHL. league.

Last season, the Jets finished 13th in the NHL with a 2.52 xGA/60 at five-on-five and 10th with a 2.39 xGA/60 en route to winning the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allocated.

However, after racking up a handful against the Red Wings, the Jets have 32 goals at even strength, an average of 3.2 per game. Last season, they scored 211 times at even strength, an average of 2.60 per game.

One line that desperately needed to step up and produce more at even strength was the Connor/Scheifele/Gabriel Vilardi contingency. This trio gave up far more than they produced at even strength last season under Rick Bowness and did the same this season heading into the game against the Red Wings, entering the contest 9-2 and producing less than one goal per 60. Head coach Scott Arniel broke them in the third period in the October 28 loss to the Maple Leafs, but gave them a chance to redeem themselves in Detroit and they did so by scoring three goals five against five in the first period.

The majority of the game is played at even strength, and while the few minutes a team spends with a man or two can play an outsized role in the outcome, the Jets can’t forget that boasting about outplaying their opponents at five against five served. them very good.

3: Manage Hellebuyck’s workload correctly

The Jets are in the midst of a long stretch of playing every other day – that span began Oct. 18 against the San Jose Sharks and extends through Nov. 9 against the Dallas Stars. The next time they have back-to-back days off will be Nov. 10-11, but it will be a brief reprieve in a busy 14-game month.

The significantly accelerated schedule makes properly managing Connor Hellebuyck’s workload a much more pressing goal. The longtime goalie and Winner of the 2024 Vezina Trophy wants the crease every night and will never admit he needs a breather, but Arniel can’t fall into the trap his predecessors did and ride Hellebuyck too hard, too soon; it always blew up in the faces of Paul Maurice, Dave Lowry and – to a lesser extent – ​​Bowness. Hellebuyck has, during many stretches during his career, looked completely exhausted in the crease.

There have been no Vézina hangovers or complacency when it comes to Hellebuyck’s new contract this campaign. Also in the first year of a massive extension he signed a year ago, he has been terrific, posting a 2.12 goals-against average (GAA), save percentage (SV) 923, a 7-1-0 record, one shutout, and 6.0 goals saved above expectations (GSAA.) The 31-year-old has allowed more than three goals in a game just once, against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 28 when he was largely abandoned by his defenders.

Just because the Jets only have one back-to-back this month (the latter game being one where the backup can usually be counted on to get the nod) doesn’t mean Hellebuyck should start all 13 others.

Eric Comrie, who is in his third term with the organization, never earned the trust of Maurice and Dave Lowry during his tenure. previous season’s stint as Hellebuyck’s replacementit was 2021-22. This is despite his career best numbers: a 10-5-1 record, 2.58 GAA and 0.920 SV% in 16 starts and 19 appearances. Hellebuyck started 66 games that season, had a GAA near 3.00, and the Jets missed the playoffs.

Arniel needs to work with Comrie more significantly this time around to keep Hellebuyck to a maximum of 60 starts by the end of the season. Comrie has made two starts so far – against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 20 and the Flames on October 26 – and has been quite good besides allowing two sharp-angle goals in his last appearance. He has a GAA of 3.00 but also owns a respectable .915 SV%, a pair of wins and a GSAA of 1.3.

Comrie should get at least three starts before the schedule turns to December: November 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, November 14 against the Tampa Bay Lightning or November 16 against the Florida Panthers, and November 23 against the Nashville Predators in the second half of a back-to-back game.