4 Takeaways From Jets’ First 3 Games of 2026-27

The Winnipeg Jets are 2-0-1 through their first three games of the 2026-27 season, first falling 4-3 in overtime to the Boston Bruins on Oct. 2, then defeating the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Oct. 4, then defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins by the same score on Oct. 5.

While the sample sizes are small, there’s nonetheless a lot to take away from the Jets’ first 180-plus minutes of the campaign. Let’s get into it.

1: Jets Are Much Faster Than Last Season

The Jets’ injection of youth looks good on them.

Out from last season are over-the-hill veterans and flat-footed d-men that made the Jets too old and too slow to keep up and in are speedy youngsters who make them much more dynamic. Comparing last season’s opening-night roster to this season’s, gone are Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Peason, Jonathan Toews, Luke Schenn, and Logan Stanley and in are Viggo Bjorck, Mario Ferraro, Brad Lambert, Isak Rosen, and Cole Perfetti (who began last season on the injured reserve.)

The combined age of the former five to start last season was 158 years old, and the combined age of the latter five to start this season is 117. It’s no surprise the team’s forecheck is more relentless and they can play at a higher pace overall.

The team’s NHL EDGE stats, which measure speed bursts within or above certain mile-per-hour (MPH) ranges, show the improvement. The Jets rank 10th leaguewide in 18-20 MPH speed bursts, 25th in 20-22 MPH bursts, and eighth in 22-plus MPH bursts so far. That’s compared to 27th in 18-20 MPH speed bursts, 28th in 20-22 MPH bursts, and 32rd in 22-plus MPH bursts last season.

2: Power Play Looking Sharp

The Jets’ power play has come out firing on all cylinders, going four for eight thus far for a 50 per cent efficiency and generating a ton of good chances. Most notably, they scored on each of their first three power-play opportunities in Detroit.

Their offensive zone time, puck movement, and creativity have been strong overall. Perfetti has looked excellent in the bumper position and Kyle Connor has been a man on a mission, responsible for three of the power play goals alone.

“It’s a lot quicker. The attack mindset is there. Not just the first attack, it’s the retrievals,” head coach Scott Arniel said postgame Sunday of the power play. “We’re doing a fantastic job on retrievals. Our entries are real good. When you do that, that means it’s possession, and now you’re wearing the opposition’s (penalty kill) down a little bit.” (From ‘Connor powers Jets past Red Wings for first win of season,’ Winnipeg Free Press, Oct. 4, 2026.)

While the Jets obviously won’t convert on half their opportunities all season, if the power play can operate closer to how it did in 2024-25 (28.90 per cent, first in the league) than it did last season (18.50 per cent, 24th), it would be a big boost to their chances to win on any given night.

3: Jets Fans Love Bauer & Skinner

Tyrel Bauer has made a huge impression on Jets’ fans over his first two-career games, engaging in a spirited tilt with Mark Kastelic in the home opener, immediately coming to Vladislav Namestnikov’s aid after he received a big hit in the same game, and then knocking out Keegan Kolesar in a first-period fight against the Red Wings. (He was given the night off versus the Penguins.)

Anyone familiar with the 24-year-old’s fights with the Manitoba Moose over the past four seasons knows he’s an extremely tough customer who never backs down from any opponent. His physical presence on the blue line give the Jets something they’ve lack over the past number of seasons, and the fanbase certainly seem to appreciate his enthusiasm and the long road he’s hoed to the NHL. Nothing has been handed to the 2020 sixth-rounder, and Winnipeg is nothing if not a city that appreciates the underdog.

However, Bauer needs to ensure he picks the right spots to engage in extracurriculars going forward. With his profile as an NHL heavyweight already on the rise — he was the most-searched player on HockeyDB on Sunday — he’s likely to get his fair share of challenges, but he doesn’t have to answer the bell every time, nor should he.

As for Stuart Skinner, Jets fans love him for now simply because, as someone who is happy to play for Winnipeg and chose it, he’s the anti-Connor-Hellebuyck. At the home opener, “STUUU” chants seemed to rain down every time he and the puck were in the same area code.

Thrust into the number-one role due to Hellebuyck’s trade demand and subsequent suspension for refusing to report to the team, Skinner did fairly well in his first two starts. Despite his first-ever regular-season goal against as a Jet being a bit of a stinker — he whiffed on a knuckling unscreened shot from the point — he’s posted a 1-0-1 record, 2.92 goals against average, .909 save percentage, and 1.2 goals saved above expected. He was especially strong in the third period versus the Red Wings, when the Jets were scrambling and the Red Wings were pushing hard for the equalizer.

Skinner has been prone to high highs and low lows throughout his career, and while that might continue this season, he’ll enjoy a long leash with the fanbase and isn’t likely to get turned into a scapegoat in Winnipeg as he was near the end of his tenure in Edmonton with the Oilers.

4: Jets Are Banking Early Points

The Jets have snagged five out of a possible six points so far, and were less than two minutes from beating the Bruins in regulation as well. That’s pretty good for a club generally considered to be on the playoff bubble at best, and winning on back-to-back nights, no matter the opponent, is impressive.

None of the Jets’ performances have been flawless, but points early in the season count just the same as late in the season, and these early points are all the more important to snag considering how difficult the Jets’ schedule will continue to be through the end of the month. If they can enter November possessing around 50 per cent of their possible points, that could be considered a win.

The Jets will tangle another strong opponent, the Colorado Avalanche, on Wednesday evening at Canada Life Centre in the first matchup of a three-game home stand.