In Peter Laviolette's eyes, these are no accidental tears. These are the Winnipeg Jets, he said, “top dogs.”
The Jets are off to a 14-1-0 start, the best 15-game opening act in NHL history, heading into Tuesday night's showdown with the Rangers at the Garden.
Connor Hellebuyck's 1.83 goals-against average and .935 save percentage are somehow better than last year's season, when the goaltender won in Vezina, at least for now.
Their offense scores the most goals in the NHL. Their blue line and Hellebuyck anchor a defense that surrenders the second fewest.
“I think that makes sense,” Laviolette said. “Their record, it's not a fluke. So for us, it's going to be a great test, a great challenge. We're playing the best team in the league right now.”
Just about everything is going well for the Jets, including Hellebuyck. And despite a 9-3-1 record, there's a lot going wrong for the Rangers as they shuffle their line and defense combinations and struggle to keep their goaltender from getting bombarded with shots. It looks like it wasn't there.
So when asked if Tuesday's game will be the deciding factor, forward Mika Zibanejad told the Post, “Maybe.”
Winnipeg tested the Rangers' commitment to areas of improvement and challenged them in their quest to not stray from their core principles, ending the season after failing to come away with a win in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals. It would mark the latest chance for an early statement victory. Last month's game against the Panthers.
This time, the Blueshirts have a chance to prevent history from continuing.
“I've faced these types of challenges over the years as a player,” Zibanejad said after Monday's practice in Tarrytown. “We've had other teams come into our building with records, but obviously we don't want to add to that, so we'll just play from there.”
Just as Igor Shesterkin continues to be the center of the Rangers' operations, Hellebuyck is filling a similar role with the Jets.
By the time he won the Vezina Trophy for the second time in his career last year and started the first 12 games of the season, Hellebuyck had already shut out opponents four times and allowed more than three goals in a game only twice. Only times.
He recorded two shutouts in three starts last week, saving 88 of 89 shots and setting the Jets' longest scoreless streak (191 minutes, 47 seconds).
All of this will clash with a Rangers line that is still searching for some fluidity.
Artemi Panarin also has 10 goals and 21 points in 13 games.
There's also Chris Kreider, who has already scored eight goals.
There's also promising progression and consistent scoring opportunities generated by the third line. However, the Blueshirts have lost five of their past seven games.
Zibanejad said the Rangers will need to execute a smart shooting plan against Hellebuyck.
Hellebuyck represents the type of goaltender who can thrive and find a rhythm when low-quality chances are interspersed, and while it's often wise to just get the puck to the net, the Blueshirts Zibanejad said he has to make sure he puts the puck in the net. Second and third chances.
“Some goalies actually get better by shooting more,” Zibanejad said. I'm not saying give up the shot, but try attacking him. It's not just about shooting for the sake of shooting. ”
The Rangers will use either Shesterkin or Jonathan Quick to counter Hellebuyck.
They have production from Panarin, Kreider, and Alexis Lafreniere against production from Nikolaj Ehlers, Kyle Connor, and Mark Scheifele.
This is a far cry from June coinciding with the Stanley Cup Final, but it's another litmus test and a chance to avoid becoming a footnote in Winnipeg's historic run.
“Anytime you play one of the top teams in the league, it's a big challenge,” fourth-row center Sam Carrick told reporters. “…We want to prove that we are on the same level as them.”
