Then, the Jets went out and lost 2-1 to the Canadiens<\/a> for their fifth straight loss.<\/p>\n All of the losses (0-3-2) have come by a single goal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Stuart Skinner<\/a>\u00a0is enjoying a resurgence in goal after a tough time in Pittsburgh and being a scapegoat for Edmonton\u2019s two Stanley Cup Final losses to Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n In eight starts this year, Skinner is 3-2-3 with a 2.60\/.911. He took the hard-luck loss to the Canadiens on Sunday night.\u00a0<\/p>\n Winnipeg\u2019s problem in the Classic was the same as its problem all season: A lack of scoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Jets are 27th in the NHL, averaging 2.45 goals per game.<\/p>\n Kyle Connor<\/a>\u00a0with nine goals and\u00a0Cole Perfetti\u00a0with six account for more than half the team\u2019s goals this season.\u00a0Mark Scheifele<\/a>, a consistent 30-plus goal scorer, is off to a slow start with only two goals in 11 games.<\/p>\n Clearly, they are lacking a balanced attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n In two seasons, the Jets went from winning the Presidents\u2019 Trophy to failing to qualify for the playoffs.<\/p>\n After the Heritage loss, Jets\u2019 coach\u00a0Scott Arniel\u00a0again lamented the lack of depth scoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe need secondary (scoring). We need other people stepping up,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cIt makes it hard with all the heat on \u2018Scheif\u2019s\u2019 line to try to do that. \u00a0That\u2019s part of the mindset of our players. Like I just talked about. You\u2019ve got to get to the net. You\u2019ve got to get greasy goals\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get inside. That\u2019s just part of how you have to score goals in this league. It isn\u2019t all just cute stuff. It has to be some of that stuff that\u2019s a little bit greasier. We do need other people to pick up some of that load.\u201d<\/p>\n In hockey, \u201cwinning ugly\u201d means finding a path to victory in a game which could have easily been lost.<\/p>\n After coming off decisive road losses in Ottawa and Pittsburgh, the Panthers faced a struggling young Blackhawks\u2019 team which couldn\u2019t capitalize on their many chances to win.<\/p>\n Fortuitous breakaway stops by\u00a0Akira Schmid<\/a>, friendly goalposts, and\u00a0Ryan Donato\u00a0breaking his stick with a yawning Florida net in front of him led up to a sloppy line change by Chicago as the clock wore down.\u00a0<\/p>\n That gave\u00a0Lars Eller\u00a0the opportunity to thread a needle and pop one past\u00a0Spencer Knight. Knight likely replayed that one in his sleep a few times.<\/p>\n A win is a win and the Panthers happily headed to Manitoba with the two points from Sunday\u2019s 3-2 victory in Chicago<\/a>.<\/p>\n The only player Winnipeg received in the Hellebuyck trade to suit up for the Jets was\u00a0Dawson Mercer.\u00a0<\/p>\n Former Panther\u00a0Nick Bjugstad\u00a0was part of the deal but has been rehabbing from offseason surgery and is not expected to be available for another two to three months.<\/p>\n Mercer is a solid 20-goal scorer who should help the Jets.<\/p>\n Nico Daws, also part of the trade, will be battling for the backup goalie spot with 27-year-old\u00a0Clay Stevenson\u00a0who has been a minor leaguer for most of his career.<\/p>\n On defense,\u00a0Josh Morrissey, who is perhaps their most reliable defender, has missed the last seven games with a hand injury and is considered week to week.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is a significant loss for the Jets.<\/p>\n After the Chicago win, coach\u00a0Paul Maurice\u00a0did not indicate any potential lineup<\/a> changes for tonight.\u00a0<\/p>\n His key advice to his players was to stay out of the penalty box. The Panthers successfully killed seven penalties Sunday against Chicago, which has the poorest power play in the NHL at 8.3 percent.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite its scoring woes, Winnipeg is a more respectable 19.4 percent with the advantage.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Jets have been playing well in losing efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Florida can expect a motivated opponent tonight \u2014 and again in Sunrise on Friday night when the two meet up for a second straight game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n ON DECK: GAME 13<\/p>\n FLORIDA PANTHERS at WINNIPEG JETS<\/p>\n \t\t![\"avatar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_4879.jpeg\")
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