Are the slumping Winnipeg Jets really a Stanley Cup contender?

Through January, the Winnipeg Jets looked like the team to beat in the Western Conference. But since February, the Jets have struggled completely in finding their rhythm, and it’s hard not to worry about their recent play.

The Winnipeg Jets entered Tuesday with two consecutive victories, seemingly busting out of a slump that saw them drop eight of their previous 11 games. Mark Scheifele and company visited the Tampa Bay Lightning, who essentially locked up the Presidents’ Trophy weeks ago. This was a chance for the Jets to make a statement – a victory in Tampa would have solidified a season series sweep.

Instead, the Jets pieced together arguably their worst performance of the season. They never stood a chance against the Lightning, who cruised to an easy 5-2 victory on home ice. So much for the Jets making a statement.

More from Puck Prose

• Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
• This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
• 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
• 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
• This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was pulled after allowing four goals on 36 shots, as the 25-year-old continues to endure quite the letdown of a season. It was only a year ago where Hellebuyck won 44 games to earn a Vezina Trophy nomination.

Hellebuyck isn’t the only notable star that’s struggling in Winnipeg, though. Sniper Patrik Laine has regained his form after going a month without scoring a goal, but he hasn’t lit the lamp in three straight games now. 29 goals aren’t bad by any means, but he scored 44 last season. The Jets had good reason to hope for him to score 45-plus in 2018-19.

Blake Wheeler (81 points), Scheifele (75 points), and Kyle Connor (50 points), haven’t lost their scoring touches. Entering play on Tuesday, the Jets are the league’s seventh-highest scoring team (224 goals). So what’s the problem, and should Jets fans be worried about this team that reached the Western Conference Final a year ago?

Obviously, Hellebuyck’s struggles have been the hot debate. But let’s not discount the sloppy defensive play in front of him, either. Top blueliner Dustin Byfuglien has only played 37 games this season, and he last suited up on Feb. 14.

Byfuglien continues to recover from a lower-body injury, and Winnipeg’s other blueliners simply haven’t been able to replace his offensive prowess and physicality. Jacob Trouba has remained largely productive, but Tyler Myers has only registered four points since Byfuglien got injured. Myers also has a mere 49.1 Corsi For Percentage on the season, further suggesting how much he’s struggled defensively.

Speaking of poor defensive play, the Jets are allowing the third-most shots per game (33.8), according to NHL.com. Last season, Winnipeg gave up 31.9 shots per game — which placed them in a tie for 16th with four other teams.

So even though the Jets are still scoring aplenty — and the acquisition of Kevin Hayes will help aplenty — Winnipeg’s main two problems are in goal and in their own defensive zone. Plain and simple.

The Jets have dropped nine of their last 14 game now, and this includes some very inexcusable losses. They lost 4-3 in overtime to the Ottawa Senators — the NHL’s worst team — back on Feb. 16. Four days later, they were blown out 7-0 on the road by the Colorado Avalanche.

Following a lackluster effort and 4-1 road loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Feb. 24, the Jets returned home for a matchup against the Minnesota Wild. The Jets led 2-1 but surrendered two goals with less than 90 seconds to go, dropping a 3-2 home decision to their Central Division foes.

It’s not just the fact the Jets have been losing in bunches lately, but also the way they’ve been dropping games. This is not how any Stanley Cup contender should be playing, with the postseason. That’s why there’s good reason to be worried in Winnipeg.

Are the Jets still contenders?

Sure, Winnipeg hasn’t been playing up to its usual standards since February. But once Byfuglien returns, the play in front of Hellebuyck should get better — and Winnipeg’s star goalie should slowly regain his form.

Even if the Jets’ continue to struggle in their own zone, they have more than enough firepower on offense to go a long way. This team is still in great position to win the Central Division and earn home ice advantage for at least two playoff rounds. They’re just one point behind the Predators for tops in the Central, and the Jets have three games in hand.

And as the eighth-seeded 2011-12 Los Angeles Kings will happily tell you, it’s not about winning games this late in the regular season. It’s simply about who wants it more during the postseason. That Kings team from seven series ago went on to win the Stanley Cup, even though they never displayed championship-level hockey throughout the regular season.

Jets fans have good reason to worry a bit about this team’s struggles as of late, but let’s not forget how much star power they have. Not only that, but the Jets were three games away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season. The pressure doesn’t faze this team, and when the stakes are higher, Winnipeg should be able to turn it up a notch.

*Stats courtesy of Hockey Reference unless otherwise noted*