Winnipeg fell 3-0 to Ottawa in its preseason finale on Thursday
The Winnipeg Jets concluded their six-game exhibition season with a 3-0 shutout at the hands of the visiting Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
The game didn't begin well for Winnipeg, which lost defenceman Ville Heinola in the early stages of the opening period, after getting entangled in a play with Erik Brannstrom along the corner boards.
According to head coach Rick Bowness, the left ankle injury is expected to keep the Jets hopeful out for a lengthy period of time, but more information will come on Friday following a full evaluation.
"It's not good," Bowness said following the game. "It’s not going to be a short-term injury. We will have more information on it tomorrow."
The 22-year-old 2019 first round pick had played his best preseason for Winnipeg on record, and was vying for one of the final defensive spots. His injury opens the door for Logan Stanley find a bit more comfortability in his role.
Things went downhill fast for Winnipeg, as Claude Giroux scored on a sensational breakaway effort shortly thereafter, giving Ottawa a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.
Josh Bailey gave the visitors another goal in the second, before setting up Jakob Chychrun for a power play strike in the third in his first preseason wearing another other than New York Islanders orange.
Connor Hellebuyck made 30 saves on 33 shots, while Anton Forsberg was perfect, turning aside all 21 pucks he faced.
The Jets did not manage to score on any of the team's five power play opportunities in the game, while only putting up a combined seven shots in the first and third periods (14 shots in the second).
"You're not going to win in this league without discipline, and that goes with and without the puck," Bowness added. "...the third period was just self-destruction in terms of discipline. Discipline comes in a lot of forms, but one of them is taking too many penalties. That's not our team, we're far more disciplined than that."
After beginning the preseason 2-0-0, Winnipeg has lost each of its last four games to finish 2-3-1 through six contests. The team will begin the 2023-24 regular season on Wednesday in Calgary, before heading home to Canada Life Centre for the home opener on Saturday afternoon against Florida.
"They've got three practices to find their game, whatever they feel they need in the next three days," Bowness said. "We're going to push them as a team, whatever they feel they need individually to the themselves ready for Wednesday."