What’s going on with the Jets’ defensive play against the Avalanche?

The 2023-24 version of the Winnipeg Jets made it their trademark that their defensive style was among the best in hockey. It’s been documented that the Jets, who finished 52-24-6 with 110 points, second in the Central Division, went 35 straight games without allowing more than three goals in a game.

But now in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Jets and Avalanche are in a track meet, and it seems the defensive strategies that earned them one of the best records in hockey have been thrown out the window.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and former NHLer Colby Cohen are joined by Winnipeg Free Press reporter Ken Wiebe to discuss the Jets’ defensive issues against the Avalanche and what needs to change.

Colby Cohen: I look at the Jets, and I go back a few weeks ago when we had Jon Goyens do “The Coaching Room” segment, and he showed how well Winnipeg defends “The House,” the third circle, the five-man unit always in the frame, and you rarely saw opponents get into those areas.

I’m watching Game 1 and Game 2, and I’m seeing a Jets team that wants to have a horse race with Colorado, which is a recipe for disaster. What’s going on defensively with their structure, where they don’t look the same as they have all year?

Ken Wiebe: That’s a great point. They won the William Jennings Trophy because they were solid defensively and they controlled home plate, and they’re not doing that in this series.

I thought Nathan MacKinnon looked good in Game 2, but if I told you the Avalanche would even the series, you would have thought MacKinnon would have a dozen shot attempts. But that wasn’t the case.

If you’re the Jets, you’re not doing a good job with A) puck management and B) cleaning up the front of the net.

You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…