In the eyes of Peter Laviolette, this isn’t a fortuitous tear. This is just who the Winnipeg Jets are — the “top dogs,” he said.
The Jets have sprinted out to a scorching 14-1-0 start, the best 15-game opening act in NHL history, entering Tuesday night’s showdown with the Rangers at the Garden.
Connor Hellebuyck’s numbers — a 1.83 goals against average and a .935 save percentage — are somehow better, at least for now, than the goaltender’s Vezina-winning season last year.
Their offense has accounted for the most goals in the NHL. Their blueline and Hellebuyck have anchored a defense that has surrendered the second fewest.
“I think it’s justified,” Laviolette said. “Their record, there’s no fluke to that. So for us, it’ll be a great test, great challenge. We’re playing the best team in the league right now.”
Just about everything has gone right for the Jets, starting with Hellebuyck. And despite a 9-3-1 record, plenty has seemingly gone wrong for the Rangers as they shuffle lines and defensive pairings and struggle to prevent their goaltenders from getting peppered with shots.
So when asked if Tuesday’s game serves as a measuring stick, forward Mika Zibanejad told The Post “possibly.”
Winnipeg will test the Rangers’ work in areas they’re aiming to improve, will challenge their quest to not deviate from core principles and will mark their latest chance for an early season statement win after they failed to secure one in an Eastern Conference Final rematch against the Panthers last month.
This time, the Blueshirts have a chance to help prevent history from continuing.
“Over the years as a player you’ve faced those types of challenges before,” Zibanejad said after practice Monday in Tarrytown. “We had other teams with records that come into our building and obviously we don’t want to add to it, so from there, it’s just go play.”
Just as Igor Shesterkin remains at the center of the Rangers’ operation, Hellebuyck has filled a similar role with the Jets.
He won the second Vezina Trophy of his career last year, and through his first 12 starts this season, Hellebuyck has already shut out an opponent four times and allowed more than three goals in a game just twice.
Within his three starts across the last week, he recorded two of his shutouts, has saved 88 of 89 shots and set a Jets record for longest stretch without allowing a goal (191:47).
That will all collide with Rangers lines still searching for some fluidity.
There’s Artemi Panarin, already up to 10 goals and 21 points through 13 games.
There’s Chris Kreider, already with eight goals.
There are the promising strides and consistent scoring chances generated by the third line, too. But the Blueshirts have been outshot by their opponents in five of their past seven games.
Against Hellebuyck, the Rangers have to execute a smart shooting plan, Zibanejad said.
Hellebuyck represents the type of goaltender who can thrive and find a rhythm when he’s getting peppered with low-quality chances, and while it’s often smart to just get the puck to the net, Zibanejad said the Blueshirts need to ensure that they’re also getting second and third chances.
“Some goalies actually get better from getting more shots,” Zibanejad said, “and it feels like it becomes a warm-up for them and they feel like they’re in the game. I’m not saying passing up on shots, but try to attack him. Not just shoot just to shoot.”
The Rangers have their counter to Hellebuyck with either Shesterkin or Jonathan Quick.
They have their counter to the production of Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele with the production of Panarin, Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere.
This is far from being a June overlap in the Stanley Cup Final, but it provides another chance for a litmus test — and a chance to avoid becoming a footnote in Winnipeg’s historical run.
“Any time you play the top team in the league, it’s a great challenge,” fourth-line center Sam Carrick told reporters. “… We want to prove that we’re up there with them.”
