Acknowledging their errors, the Jets plan to implement the needed modifications.
Winnipeg's smiley coach, Scott Arniel, noticed his players weren't thrilled as they rewatched their disappointing Game 1 against Dallas Stars. "Bet they weren't too fond of it," he quipped. But, he said, there's a lesson there: they messed up the first game, gave away home ice, and that means they can correct their mistakes for Game 2.
Arniel pointed out that they rushed plays, weren't executing them, and weren't as smooth as they should be. Ideally, they should be as slick as a well-oiled machine, working together, communicating, making few errors, and moving swiftly.
No surprise then that Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry thinks they need to up their game. The team that won the Presidents' Trophy in the regular season needs to ensure they manage the puck better and not let Dallas do what they do best: transition. Lowry believes they need to neutralize Rantanen, the Finnish forward who scored a hat trick in consecutive playoff games and is a bit of a menace for the Stars.
To handle Rantanen, Lowry suggested they have to get physical with him, slow him down, and make him work hard for open spaces. The Jets aren't in a panic mode yet, but they know they need to win Friday's game to avoid going down 2-0. But, as defenseman Dylan DeMelo pointed out, Friday's game alone won't win them the series.
The good news is that they might get a boost for the next game in the form of defenseman Josh Morrissey, who missed the first game and could make his return. Morrissey's presence would certainly be a considerable boost for the Jets, according to DeMelo, as they struggle to contain Dallas's deep forward lineup and manage their own defensive challenges.
With Dallas's forward depth creating matchup problems, sloppy defensive coverage around the net, and ineffective offensive zone play, the Jets have some work to do if they want to compete in Game 2. They need to tighten up defensively, be more discipline-minded to avoid penalties, and work on their offensive zone execution to challenge Dallas's strong defense and create clear scoring opportunities.
Scott Arniel, the smiley coach of Winnipeg Jets, contemplated their players' lackluster demeanor after rewatching their disappointing Game 1 against the Dallas Stars. He highlighted that they had made errors in their hockey strategies, not executing plays effectively, and were not as smooth as they should be, resembling a machine out of oil. Adam Lowry, the team's captain, agreed, expressing the necessity for improvement, especially in managing the puck and neutralizing Rantanen, the menacing Finnish forward. Lowry proposed they should physically challenge Rantanen, making him work hard for space. If defenseman Josh Morrissey, who missed Game 1, returns for Game 2, his presence would be a significant boost, as suggested by DeMelo, to help the Jets handle Dallas's deep forward lineup and address their defensive challenges. However, the Jets understand they must win Friday's game to avoid falling behind 2-0, and DeMelo emphasized that just one game wouldn't secure the series for them. Therefore, the Jets need to focus on tightening up their defense, being more disciplined to avoid penalties, and improving their offensive zone execution to challenge Dallas's strong defense and create clear scoring opportunities.
