The Winnipeg Jets need to convert more scoring chances into goals if they hope to overcome their 3-1 series deficit against the Dallas Stars, according to head coach Scott Arniel.
“I thought we played a good hockey game. We had 70 shot attempts and scored one goal,” Arniel said. “If we can’t find more than one goal, we’re not going to win hockey games. Especially against this hockey team.”
Winnipeg outattempted Dallas 72-46 in Tuesday’s Game 4 loss.
The Jets also created more quality opportunities, generating a 12-8 advantage in high-danger scoring chances according to Natural Stat Trick.
“I thought all our combinations had a lot of opportunities, we just didn’t put the puck in the net, and that’s the bottom line at this time of year,” Arniel said. “You’ve got to find a way to score goals. They’re not going to be pretty. They’re probably going to have to be ugly ones, and we’re going to have to find a way to do that.”
The Jets, who ranked fourth in offense during the regular season, have managed just three goals in their two games in Dallas after the series began tied 1-1.
Winnipeg has now lost nine straight road playoff games spanning the last three years.
Forward Nikolaj Ehlers echoed his coach’s assessment of their Game 4 performance.
“I actually thought we played a really good game,” Ehlers said. “I think at the end of the day we’ve got to score on our chances. It’s as simple as that.”
He added, “We had some good moments, but at the end of the day, we lost. We’ve got to go home, recharge, and get ready for the next one.”
