The Winnipeg Jets were spurred on by their unprecedented ‘Miracle in Montreal.’
asserted
Jets → spur → Montreal
After erasing a four-goal deficit and beating the Canadiens 5-4 in overtime on Tuesday, the Jets came out brimming with confidence when they opened a three-game homestand against the lowly Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night.
The Jets scored two goals in the first four minutes of the game and never looked back in a 6-2 victory over the Canucks before 13,312 at Canada Life Centre.
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Jets → erase → Centre
“Obviously, I think we proved ourselves there in the first period,” said Jets forward Dawson Mercer.
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Mercer → think → period
“We came out really strong, with speed and kind of built off that win.
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We → come → win
That (Montreal triumph) was a pretty spectacular game, to say the least.
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triumph → say → least
It definitely gave us a lot of motivation here coming into the game at home.”
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It → give → home
The past two wins came on the heels of a nine-game losing streak for Winnipeg.
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wins → come → Winnipeg
“Yeah, the big thing for me was the first period,” said Jets coach Scott Arniel.
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Arniel → say → me
“We (could) very easily be caught up in what happened in Montreal and come up flat and allow Vancouver to get to play their game.
uncertain
Vancouver → catch → game
I didn’t think we did that.
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we → think → that
“I thought all the lines, the D, everybody was ready to go.
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everybody → think → ?
We got out in front real quick.
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We → get → front
So now, all of a sudden, you have the opposition on their heels and that’s what we were hoping for.”
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we → have → what
Mercer benefited from that momentum to score his first goal as a Jet.
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Mercer → benefit → Jet
“It was good,” said Mercer, who added an assist.
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who → say → assist
“I was happy to get it finally.
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I → get → it
I’ve been thinking about it.
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I → think → it
To get it during a win and at home just made it a little bit better.”
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it → get → home
A key piece in the trade that sent disgruntled star goalie Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils, Mercer had been struggling to find his game since he arrived.
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he → send → game
“It was really hectic the first few days, then to get on the road and travel, try to figure out everything,” he said.
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he → get → everything
“Just overall in my game, using my speed, handling the puck, I think it’s improved day by day.”
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it → use → day
Arniel appreciates Mercer’s talent.
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Arniel → appreciate → talent
“Every game, you’re starting to really see the skill set,” he said.
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he → start → set
“But he also has a real good compete side to him.
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he → have → him
We use him on the penalty kill.
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We → use → kill
He’s not afraid to block shots.
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He → ’ → shots
He’s using his speed.
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He → use → speed
“I think he’s really starting to get comfortable and starting to feel like he’s a part of the Winnipeg Jet family.”
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he → think → family
Rookie Viggio Bjorck assisted on Mark Scheifele’s second-period goal for his first NHL point.
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Bjorck → assist → point
The crowd started chanting his name after the assist.
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crowd → start → assist
“It was fun,” Bjorck said.
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Bjorck → say → ?
“I felt like it should have come a couple games earlier, but eventually it came here.”
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it → feel → ?
“We’ve got a wonderful crowd here,” he added.
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he → get → crowd
“The fans are so passionate; it is really fun to play here.”
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it → play → ?
Bjorck acknowledged that it hadn’t been easy to go without a point up to this point.
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it → acknowledge → point
“For me, it’s also important to go through,” he said.
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he → ’ → me
“It’s not the end of the world, but still a tough time to build up here mentally.
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It → ’ → world
It’s not always going to be glamorous and sun and rainbows and stuff like that.
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It → go → that
Eventually you’ve just grind your way through it.
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you → grind → it
“Hopefully, it will come more.
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it → come → ?
…and 3 more, not listed.