Jets’ Offense Finally Rounding Into Form During Four-Game Win Streak

On Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets earned an emotional 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils, a promising showing for an offense that cracked one of the league's toughest defenses and limited a fast-flying New Jersey attack.

The Jets did it with balance, getting strong games from several forwards. Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti delivered as expected, but two high-profile newcomers, Dawson Mercer and Viggo Björck, also made big contributions.

Mercer, the main roster piece in the return package from the Connor Hellebuyck trade with New Jersey, scored twice against his former team. It was his first multi-goal game since April 2 of last season, when he scored two against the Washington Capitals. His go-ahead goal, which proved to be the game-winner, came off a slick backhand pass from Alex Iafallo, who connected with a wide-open Mercer after a nice passing play started by Björck.

The 18-year-old Björck picked up a secondary assist on the play and gave him four points in his last three games after he opened the season without a point through his first 16 games. Mercer's two goals gave him four points over his last three games as well, matching Björck's recent output.

Winnipeg's top players have also come alive during the four-game winning streak. Mark Scheifele has seven points, Connor has six points, four of them goals, and Perfetti has five points. Gabe Vilardi, who had just five points through his first 15 games, has assists in three of his last four.

Depth has contributed too with the red hot Brayden Yager, back from the AHL, scoring his first NHL goal Sunday in a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning and will look to build on it. Morgan Barron has four points during the streak, and four different defensemen have scored over the four games, a group that does not include Josh Morrissey, who is returning to the lineup.

If the Jets can keep getting timely scoring from throughout the lineup, there's no telling how long this run could last. Last season, Winnipeg lost 11 straight from mid-December to early January, then followed it with a four-game win streak that kicked off a 20-9-7 stretch over its next 36 games.

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