Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry, who chose to sign a five-year extension in 2021 rather than test free agency, did so because he had strong faith in the team and felt a connection to the city.
That belief remains strong today.
Despite the Jets facing elimination, trailing the Dallas Stars 3-1 in the second-round playoff series, Lowry maintains unwavering confidence, especially in goaltender Connor Hellebuyck`s capacity to lead a comeback.
Quoting Lowry before the pivotal Game 4 loss, he stated, “There`s no doubt about our confidence in Helly. We firmly believe he is the world`s best goalie and capable of delivering. We share responsibility for our road struggles; it`s not solely on one player.”
Lowry continued, “While the goalie is often scrutinized after a goal, many plays precede high-danger chances. Given his calm demeanor and confidence, we have full faith he`ll succeed and be a wall for us.”
Winning Game 5 on Thursday would be crucial for such a turnaround.
Despite a standout regular season likely earning him a third Vezina Trophy, Hellebuyck`s playoff struggles are noticeable, mirroring previous post-season challenges.
However, the team`s inconsistent performance in front of him also contributes to their difficulties.
After reaching the Western Conference Final in 2018, the Jets had won only one playoff series since then before their impressive Game 7 victory against the St. Louis Blues.
In Tuesday`s Game 4, they statistically outplayed the Stars, yet could only score once against Jake Oettinger. This loss marked their ninth consecutive playoff road defeat over three seasons, during which they`ve failed to score more than two goals in any road game.
Four games into the second round, the Jets possess the lowest-ranked power play (1-for-15) and penalty kill (Stars` power play is 4-for-11) among the remaining playoff teams.
While playoff defeat is always difficult, it`s particularly frustrating when the team isn`t performing at its peak.
Lowry expressed confidence in the team`s resilience, stating, “Throughout the year, we`ve been good at recovering from poor performances. We can be an excellent defensive team, limiting opponents` chances when playing our best, and we believe we have the world`s top goalie.”
He concluded, “Although we lack a single superstar like McDavid or MacKinnon consistently putting up multiple points, our strength lies in our depth at forward and defense, combined with elite goaltending. This team structure allows us to play a collective game that, at its best, rivals any in the league – which explains our regular season success. This team concept shouldn`t disappear when playoff intensity rises.”
