Jacob Billington: Winnipeg Jets Defeat Edmonton Oilers 5-2, Offensive Powerhouse Matchup

All I gotta say is, the Jets put the rest of the league on notice tonight! Nice team win!

Jets score three 5 vs 5 . Oilers score none. It appears the Jets have improved more than the Oilers this year but time will tell. I like the Jets O-zone time in the first two periods. Nothing wrong with the new line combos although I'm not so sure Wheeler is fitting in anywhere these days.

Jets score three 5 vs 5 . Oilers score none. It appears the Jets have improved more than the Oilers this year but time will tell. I like the Jets O-zone time in the first two periods. Nothing wrong with the new line combos although I'm not so sure Wheeler is fitting in anywhere these days.
- jetsnation

I think Wheeler is fully capable of succeeding on the second or third line. Looked pretty good tonight in my opinion. I do think the third line is the best place for him, but if he can play like tonight I don't see a reason to move him down

Jets score three 5 vs 5 . Oilers score none. It appears the Jets have improved more than the Oilers this year but time will tell. I like the Jets O-zone time in the first two periods. Nothing wrong with the new line combos although I'm not so sure Wheeler is fitting in anywhere these days.
- jetsnation

Isn't that crazy to think, that opinion you just stated, can you imagine you said that last year or the year before? But he will be a great playoff guy, total team guy, the glue as they say. The make up of this team, is sick!

I think Wheeler is fully capable of succeeding on the second or third line. Looked pretty good tonight in my opinion. I do think the third line is the best place for him, but if he can play like tonight I don't see a reason to move him down
- Jacob Billington

That is always the problem with players like Wheeler, can he swallow pride for the better of the team? There will be times during the season when he will be needed to do more, injuries or losing streaks. As the Captain, he should accept any role. Especially when you have a team like this. They are legit Stanley Cup contenders. I would bet them now at +3500!!

Colorado Avalanche +700
Florida Panthers +750
Tampa Bay Lightning +900
Vegas Golden Knights +950
Toronto Maple Leafs +1100
Edmonton Oilers +1200
Carolina Hurricanes +1400
Boston Bruins +1500
Minnesota Wild +1800
St. Louis Blues +2200
Calgary Flames +2500
New York Islanders +2500
Washington Capitals +2500
Pittsburgh Penguins +2800
New York Rangers +3000
Winnipeg Jets +3500
Philadelphia Flyers +4500
Dallas Stars +5000
Nashville Predators +6000
New Jersey Devils +7000
Los Angeles Kings +7500
San Jose Sharks +7500
Seattle Kraken +9000
Anaheim Ducks +10000
Chicago Blackhawks +10000
Montreal Canadiens +10000
Vancouver Canucks +10000
Columbus Blue Jackets +15000
Ottawa Senators +15000
Detroit Red Wings +15000
Buffalo Sabres +17500
Arizona Coyotes +65000

Look at the teams ahead of the Jets! NYI dead last in their division! Vegas, Toronto, Boston ahead of the Jets! The funniest one of all is the Pens ahead of the Jets. These were the odds yesterday in Vegas!

I think Wheeler is fully capable of succeeding on the second or third line. Looked pretty good tonight in my opinion. I do think the third line is the best place for him, but if he can play like tonight I don't see a reason to move him down
- Jacob Billington

I would have to respectfully disagree with you here Jacob. Wheeler seems to have become the new Lowry whereas he becomes a drag on the offense of any line he is on. He would make for an excellent 3rd liner with a max of 15mins/game. This would actually help him boost his offensive stats. It's too bad that Uncle Paul the assistant coach of the team cannot see that!

I would have to respectfully disagree with you here Jacob. Wheeler seems to have become the new Lowry whereas he becomes a drag on the offense of any line he is on. He would make for an excellent 3rd liner with a max of 15mins/game. This would actually help him boost his offensive stats. It's too bad that Uncle Paul the assistant coach of the team cannot see that!
- TheUltimateJet

I 100% see both sides of that. Based on last night, I wouldn't say he drug anyone down, but, you are right that the best place for him, and for the team is on the 3rd line. We know Wheeler can play anywhere in the lineup, and has been one of the leagues most consistent scorer over the past 6 or 7 years. Obviously his age is catching up, but he is capable. Putting him on the third line to stay, and adjusting if he is playing well is fine by me

Not denying that he hasn't been good, however, Wheeler had a bad start last year (and 2019 if i recall). His history has been that he improves through the season. Keep finding him about 20 minutes a night, the 2nd line seems like a fit. The points will come.

I'm wondering why the head shot that Pionk took from McDavid wasn't something the league would look at? I think if it were reversed Pionk would be having a hearing today.

Watching PLD play this year is so exciting. His heavy driving and chippy style is something the jets needed and looks like the real PLD showed up after last years struggles.

Just for sh!ts and giggles, last night had the #1, 3 and 4 2016 draft picks playing and the #2 used to play here as well.

But, #1 and #3 are pretty awesome and PLD is playing up to his #3 billing.

I'm wondering why the head shot that Pionk took from McDavid wasn't something the league would look at? I think if it were reversed Pionk would be having a hearing today.

Mainly because it was Pionk selling it. McDavid hit was a shoulder to shoulder with a follow through that Pionk acted like he was shot in watching the replay again. If Stanleys crosscheck from behind on Draisaitl isn't going to be looked at, McDavids wont be either. Just a big body game yesterday.

Overall Winnipeg was the better team for 2 of the 3 periods, with a all-star goalie. That's the biggest missing piece to Edmonton for really any playoff success to happen.

Not denying that he hasn't been good, however, Wheeler had a bad start last year (and 2019 if i recall). His history has been that he improves through the season. Keep finding him about 20 minutes a night, the 2nd line seems like a fit. The points will come.
- 2.0

Wheeler has been known as a late bloomer in his career. Unfortunately, we are starting to see the "bloom" slowly coming off the Wheeler rose and will likely continue to as the clock moves forward.

Look at the teams ahead of the Jets! NYI dead last in their division! Vegas, Toronto, Boston ahead of the Jets! The funniest one of all is the Pens ahead of the Jets. These were the odds yesterday in Vegas!
- PuckPix

The Rangers are in first place in their division yet their GF vs GA differential is zero. Bottom line is they won a lot of 1 goal games. Their position in the standings could drop quite quickly

Watching PLD play this year is so exciting. His heavy driving and chippy style is something the jets needed and looks like the real PLD showed up after last years struggles.

Just for sh!ts and giggles, last night had the #1, 3 and 4 2016 draft picks playing and the #2 used to play here as well.

But, #1 and #3 are pretty awesome and PLD is playing up to his #3 billing.
- Old Flopper

I love PLD. It's a really good problem to have when we are unable to distinguish between him and Scheifele as to who really is our number 1 center. I have always believed that in order to win a cup that two #1 center men are required to get the job done.

I'm wondering why the head shot that Pionk took from McDavid wasn't something the league would look at? I think if it were reversed Pionk would be having a hearing today.
- islansjet

What about that play by Crosby on Martin Fehervary? He basically suplexed him into the boards and if that's not a suspension, then McDavid's little headshot on Pionk definitely is not. The NHL department on player safety is a joke!

I'm wondering why the head shot that Pionk took from McDavid wasn't something the league would look at? I think if it were reversed Pionk would be having a hearing today.
- islansjet

2 minutes was the right call on the play. I think they called it roughing instead of 'hit to the head' to lessen the chance of a parros review.

Stanley deserved 2 also. I didn't like that it put us into 5v3 but it sets a tone that Edmonton cant match right now. There was some chatter about the Jets playing their game and dictating play - the Jets best identity is a heavy, skilled game. When they are not playing heavy they are just not as good a team. Stanley adds to that element and when you are winning a regular season game 4-0 you can add something special to your hits.

I would have to respectfully disagree with you here Jacob. Wheeler seems to have become the new Lowry whereas he becomes a drag on the offense of any line he is on. He would make for an excellent 3rd liner with a max of 15mins/game. This would actually help him boost his offensive stats. It's too bad that Uncle Paul the assistant coach of the team cannot see that!
- TheUltimateJet

I fall in the middle of those opinions. Wheeler simply sucks when he is gassed. If he plays 16 minutes a night with a chunk of that on the PP2, he can be very effective. The second he logs big minutes, his brain shuts down and he makes glaring errors. I still like the guy on this team, and he is a great voice in the locker room, but L3 is where he can still help offensively while not being a liability. The big lumbering skater needs serious time management, but as critical as we are of him, he still has 116 points in his last 131 games. Nothing wrong with that.

Lastly, his contract is quite buyout friendly. If the next 2 seasons at 8.25M AAV are going to be an issue, he could be bought out with the following penalties by year: 4.2M, 2.5M, 2.5M, 2.5M

The cap should take a big jump in about 2 years, and with the savings, you could target a fairly good UFA simply with his cap savings alone. Wheeler is not as detrimental as many think, he just needs to be addressed at the right time.

I fall in the middle of those opinions. Wheeler simply sucks when he is gassed. If he plays 16 minutes a night with a chunk of that on the PP2, he can be very effective. The second he logs big minutes, his brain shuts down and he makes glaring errors. I still like the guy on this team, and he is a great voice in the locker room, but L3 is where he can still help offensively while not being a liability. The big lumbering skater needs serious time management, but as critical as we are of him, he still has 116 points in his last 131 games. Nothing wrong with that.

Lastly, his contract is quite buyout friendly. If the next 2 seasons at 8.25M AAV are going to be an issue, he could be bought out with the following penalties by year: 4.2M, 2.5M, 2.5M, 2.5M

The cap should take a big jump in about 2 years, and with the savings, you could target a fairly good UFA simply with his cap savings alone. Wheeler is not as detrimental as many think, he just needs to be addressed at the right time.
- bikeguy99

The people here don't think it's Wheeler himself being the issue its the refusal of the coach to address that. Maurice loves his veterans and that has always been his downfall and the team here wins despite his coaching not because of it.

The people here don't think it's Wheeler himself being the issue its the refusal of the coach to address that. Maurice loves his veterans and that has always been his downfall and the team here wins despite his coaching not because of it.
- wesveness

This is a well worded post!

Mainly because it was Pionk selling it. McDavid hit was a shoulder to shoulder with a follow through that Pionk acted like he was shot in watching the replay again. If Stanleys crosscheck from behind on Draisaitl isn't going to be looked at, McDavids wont be either. Just a big body game yesterday.

Overall Winnipeg was the better team for 2 of the 3 periods, with a all-star goalie. That's the biggest missing piece to Edmonton for really any playoff success to happen.
- iAvery

You must not have watched a lot of oiler games. While I agree an upgrade in goal is needed, it has not been an issue this year so far and Koskinen has actually won them a couple games they should not have been in. Their biggest flaw is they count on out scoring teams every night. They play very poor team defence and have large holes on their back end. I say the way to beat them is get the puck deep, forecheck hard, pressure the D and you’ll have success against them. Winnipeg does this well the past year against the oilers.

The people here don't think it's Wheeler himself being the issue its the refusal of the coach to address that. Maurice loves his veterans and that has always been his downfall and the team here wins despite his coaching not because of it.
- wesveness

None of Wheeler’s issues are realistically his fault (unless he’s demanding top minutes). What made the 81-55-26 line such a problem as Wheeler declined was Scheifele’s lazy streak.
We already know Connor isn’t into back checking, and when he does go hard after it, he’s lost in the D zone.
Scheifele also not being bothered has Wheeler as the only guy hauling ass back to cover. If his speed and gas tank are the only things in decline like it seems, having him with those two is a recipe for disaster.
We saw it all of last year. By the time they would get into the o zone, Wheeler would either be gassed or changing. And that’s for 20 minutes a night.

The hands, the IQ, and the size are still there. Let him keep his energy before he inevitably breaks down

None of Wheeler’s issues are realistically his fault (unless he’s demanding top minutes). What made the 81-55-26 line such a problem as Wheeler declined was Scheifele’s lazy streak.
We already know Connor isn’t into back checking, and when he does go hard after it, he’s lost in the D zone.
Scheifele also not being bothered has Wheeler as the only guy hauling ass back to cover. If his speed and gas tank are the only things in decline like it seems, having him with those two is a recipe for disaster.
We saw it all of last year. By the time they would get into the o zone, Wheeler would either be gassed or changing. And that’s for 20 minutes a night.

The hands, the IQ, and the size are still there. Let him keep his energy before he inevitably breaks down
- Rexypoo

This is a complete BS post. No one on here that knows anything about hockey and the Jets will be calling Schiefele lazy. I'll also add that Connor is a highly underrated regarding backchecking. He is often the first guy back and it very responsible in his own end. Wheelers problems are his own and has nothing to do with his linemates.