The Jets have a history of getting out of starting off slow with just two wins over their past six preseason openers heading into Saturday's game. The game was close to start but an early miscommunication on a loose puck between three Jets players in front of starter Kaapo Kahkonen gave 21-year-old Wild prospect Caedan Bankier an easy open look with the goalie scrambling for a 1-0 lead, that set the tone for the remainder of the game.
It is the preseason, which means players need to be reminded of the fundamentals like breaking up screens in front of your goaltender. Three of the seven goals scored were because of netfront screens including the Wild's second goal scored by Manitoba native Daemon Hunt.
Jets prospect Nikita Chibrikov responded with a screen of his own that helped blueliner Colin Miller let loose a slapshot for the Jets first goal. The Wild quickly responded with a flukey shot on net that made it past the goaltender due to another screen and gave the Wild a 3-1 lead.
If not for the goal, it would have been a much worse night for Miller as he followed up his goal by making costly turnovers in key situations and failing to read an incoming Wild player in forward Jakub Lauko near the blueline, who blocked his shot attempt and took it the other way for the Wild's fourth goal.
Things started to feel hopeless when 25-year-old forward Mason Shaw made a turnover directly to Minnesota's Ben Jones, that was taken in front and put past Kahkonen for the fifth time and extended to lead to 5-1. All five goals were scored off low shots and although some weren't entirely his fault, Kahkonen has to work on this before the start of the season.
Jets 2023 first round pick, Colby Barlow, sent fans home slightly more happy as he managed to get a quick shot off a face off and score Winnipeg second and final game in the game.
Some of the bright spots for the Jets in this one were Chibrikov, who made a clutch screen for the teams first goal and highly-touted prospect Brayden Yager, who was generating most of the teams scoring chances that lead to a last minue assist
The Jets will have until Wednesday to look over the tape and make adjustments before their next preseason game against the Oilers on Wednesday.