Jets vs. Red Wings Recap: Connor and the Power Play Cash Four Plays

The Winnipeg Jets beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in regulation, and the power play did almost all of the damage. Winnipeg scored three power-play goals on four chances to build a 3-0 lead by 5:41 of the 2nd. Kyle Connor had two of them and set up the other. Detroit pushed back with a power-play goal from Viktor Arvidsson at 16:52 of the 2nd and an even-strength goal from Emmitt Finnie at 4:56 of the 3rd, but never found the tying goal. Detroit outshot Winnipeg 35-27, and Stuart Skinner made 33 saves for the Jets. John Gibson stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced for Detroit. Four DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Alex DeBrincat 3+ shots on goal (-230 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: DeBrincat put up 3+ shots in 62 of 82 games last season, about 3.50 a game, and with Dylan Larkin out he was leading Detroit's top line and power play. - What happened: 4 shots on goal, 1 assist, 23:16 of ice time with 6:44 on the power play. All four of his shots came in the 1st period, and the third one at 19:10 of the 1st cleared the line. He finished 1.5 shots over the number and picked up the secondary assist on Finnie's goal in the 3rd. - Worth watching: The role is the story. Over 23 minutes with more than six minutes on the power play is the kind of usage that keeps shot volume steady, so this angle stays on our radar as long as the price holds.

Kyle Connor 1+ points (-200 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Connor had a point in 61 of 82 games last season with 92 points, and he had 2 points with 9 shots in Winnipeg's opener. Detroit was also without Larkin and Marco Kasper. - What happened: 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots on goal in 20:05 with 3:07 on the power play. He cashed this early with the primary assist on Cole Perfetti's power-play goal at 13:04 of the 1st, then scored on the power play at 14:36 of the 1st and again at 5:41 of the 2nd. He finished 2.5 points over the line. - Worth watching: Connor was in on all three Winnipeg goals, every one of them on the power play. When the Jets draw penalties, his point floor looks sturdy.

ALT: Over 4.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: The main total was 5.5 and shaded to the over. Winnipeg was without Connor Hellebuyck, so Stuart Skinner was projected in net. The alt at 4.5 sits a goal under that main number. - What happened: 5 total goals, 0.5 over the line. Finnie's goal at 4:56 of the 3rd was the fifth and cashed it. - Worth watching: Special teams carried this total. Four of the five goals came on the power play, so penalty-heavy matchups are where alt overs like this have room.

Justin Faulk 2+ shots on goal (+110 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Faulk had 2+ shots in 47 of 78 games last season, about 1.90 a game, and played 21:29 in Detroit's opener. - What happened: 3 shots on goal in 19:32 with 2:30 on the power play. His second shot came at 15:25 of the 2nd and cleared the line, and he added a third at 19:32 of the 3rd. He finished 1.5 over the number. This was a longer shot that landed at plus money. - Worth watching: Faulk played 19:32 after 21:29 in the opener. A defenseman getting that much ice time at a plus price is worth a look when the number is there.

How the game played out

The 1st period swung on discipline. Detroit took penalties that put Winnipeg on the power play, and the Jets scored twice in 92 seconds, at 13:04 and 14:36. Connor made it 3-0 on another power play early in the 2nd. Detroit outshot Winnipeg 13-9 in the 2nd and 9-7 in the 3rd, but Skinner held the lead. He made 8 of his saves while Detroit was on the power play.

Trends to watch

• Winnipeg's power play went three for four in this one, and Connor and Perfetti each had a point on all three goals.
• DeBrincat logged 6:44 on the power play, more than double Faulk's 2:30, and all four of his shots came in the 1st period.
• Skinner faced 35 shots in a full 60:00. With Hellebuyck out, his workload is one to track game to game.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. For more, see our NHL page, the NHL recaps, what an alt line is, and our look at the Jets without Hellebuyck.