Entering the 2024 NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets were a team that many people were sleeping on, one that doesn’t make a lot of headlines or have any superstar players. It appears they have taken that disrespect personally, and all they have done is break an NHL record in response.
With their 6-3 defeat of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the Jets became the fastest team to 15 wins in NHL history. At 15-1-0 to start the season, the Jets managed to get there faster than the 2022-23 Boston Bruins, 2007-08 Ottawa Senators, 2006-07 Buffalo Sabres, 1985-86 Philadelphia Flyers and 1929-30 Boston Bruins.
Jets head coach Scott Arniel, who I wrote about earlier this season as a good bet for the Jack Adams award at 8/1 odds, talked about his team breaking the record after the game:
"You know, you would never have drawn it up this way," Arniel said, per NHL.com. "We had talked about it at the start of the year of banking points. We've got a very tough division, a tough Western Conference. We've got to eliminate eight teams to get into the big dance. Yeah, I don't think I quite drew it up this way, but certainly the guys have earned every inch of it."
The Jets have also not had a super favorable schedule either, so people can’t use that excuse to dismiss them. In fact, Winnipeg is now 7-0-0 on the road, which is extremely difficult to do no matter who the opponent is.
They became the ninth team in NHL history to start out 7-0-0 on the road, following the Los Angeles Kings in 2023-24 (11-0-0), Buffalo Sabres in 2006-07 (10-0-0), New Jersey Devils in 2009-10 (9-0-0), Nashville Predators in 2018-19 (8-0-0), Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009-10 (7-0-0), Detroit Red Wings in 2005-06 (7-0-0), Philadelphia Flyers in 1985-86 (7-0-0) and Toronto Maple Leafs in 1940-41 (7-0-0).
Not only has their offense been hot, but they also have the reigning Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck in the net. He’s been fantastic yet again, with an outstanding 1.92 GA/G and .934 SV% in 13 starts. He is well on his way to winning the award for a second year in a row.
Over at BetMGM Sportsbook, the Jets still aren’t the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. They are 8/1 right now, still sitting behind several teams such as the Panthers, Hurricanes, Rangers, Devils, Maple Leafs, Avalanche, Stars, Oilers, and Golden Knights. Clearly the books think they are a bit of a fraud with that kind of disrespect.
Personally, I don’t think they are as good as a 15-1 record would make you think, but they are still a solid team. I stand by my bet on Arniel to win the Jack Adams, and if you want to play Winnipeg to win the Cup, I would wait until the inevitable cold streak comes. Every team goes through one at some point, which leaves an opportunity to wager on them.
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