Jets’ Appleton makes most of shot on top line in win over Stars

WINNIPEG — Mason Appleton fully understands that this opportunity falls under the heading of other duties as assigned.

When your primary job is being a valued member of the Winnipeg Jets checking line and penalty killing unit, the chance to get bumped up to the top line is always welcome.

In many ways, it’s a gift that all players relish.

That doesn’t mean it’s always an easy adjustment.

Getting a promotion of this magnitude requires a player to strike an important balance between showing you’ve got the skill and ability to make an impact while also remembering to simplify your game and do the things that you normally do when playing a bit lower down in the lineup.

Appleton found the sweet spot on Tuesday, chipping in a goal and adding two assists in a decisive 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in a showdown for first place in the Central Division.

“That’s his best game with that line,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. “When you play with those guys, sometimes you get out of what you do well. (Tuesday), he did what he does well. He was strong on the boards, reliable defensively and skating the puck without trying to do too much. That line was outstanding.”

It most certainly was, even after what was a frustrating start to the second period, when the trio with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor was on the ice for a goal against from Jason Robertson.

The Jets replied just 21 seconds later as Connor got the puck across to Appleton, who found Scheifele for a backdoor tap-in for his first of two goals.

Appleton also got a helper on Scheifele’s eighth of the season, but it was Connor doing most of the heavy lifting on the play, making a tight turn up in the offensive zone before pulling away from Stars centre Tyler Seguin and finding Scheifele all alone once again.

Because of all of the little things he was able to do during his 24 shifts and 15:46 of ice time, Appleton was out there after the Stars pulled the goalie in favour of an extra attacker and he was rewarded with his first goal of the season.

“He’s been fantastic. He’s been grinding, he’s been doing all the right things and making plays,” said Scheifele. “Obviously on my first goal it was an unbelievable feed by him there. He’s been absolutely fantastic on the forecheck, to the net, doing all the dirty work.

“Obviously fantastic on the kill. He’s been getting better each and every game. That’s exciting for us as a line. Like I said before we’ve got to keep pushing each other, we’ve got to keep getting better and better.”

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With Nikolaj Ehlers likely out of the Jets lineup for a few more games after missing the past 10 with a lower-body injury, the Jets need Appleton to continue to pick up some of the slack as he plays on the top line.

“We’re getting better and better. There was a little lull there for a bit but this was the biggest game of the year and we played the best as a line so I think we’re really happy with where we are right now,” said Appleton. “We all play the game a little bit differently. They are more offensive-minded than I am, but I think my game has the ability to complement them pretty well.

“It’s cliche to say, but you just play your game. I think the way I can win battles and break out the puck, win those board battles and get the puck to them through the neutral zone and then just reading off each other offensively and finding those spots to make plays. That’s how I can complement them.”

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Although the calendar reads November and it was only Game 12 for the Jets, this was one of those litmus test type of affairs and Bowness encouraged his team to embrace the battle for first place — especially after how the Stars outclassed the Jets in Dallas in mid-October.

To say the Jets answered the challenge is a massive understatement.

This was one of their more complete games in recent memory.

After falling short in many individual battles and looking slow for the bulk of the 4-1 loss to the Stars, the Jets turned the tables against a Dallas team that is now 8-4-1 on the season.

“It’s big time. When I was traded back here at the end of last year, there were a couple of meaningless hockey games, you were just playing for your pride,” said Appleton. “Those games aren’t near as fun as playing for first place, no matter if that is Game 12 or Game 75. We love where our game is at right now, and to be in first place feels damn good.”

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Although Bowness was quick to downplay the importance of going up against his former team for the first time going into the game (he missed the game in Dallas after coming down with COVID-19), this wasn’t just another outing for the hockey lifer — even if he didn’t care to share any thoughts publicly on the matter and went out of his way to praise the Stars’ start and the job that his replacement, Peter DeBoer, has been doing.

“Oh of course. You know he circles that one on his calendar, especially being at home in Winnipeg for that one,” said Scheifele. “It was a big win for us, we played well, (Connor Hellebuyck) made some big saves when we needed him to. And we capitalized when we needed to. So it was a good game overall. Everyone had a piece of it.”

Just over a week ago, Bowness said the Jets hadn’t played up to the standard they’d set for themselves and that despite bringing back five of six points from the recent road trip, maintaining the level of success wasn’t sustainable without improving dramatically in a number of areas.

Since that time, the Jets have put together three consecutive solid efforts on home ice, getting better in each of those games as they work to establish a foundation from which to build upon.

“I see a more confident team. They understand if they play the right way and do these things that we keep preaching, we’re going to have success,” said Bowness. “We are going to cut down on the chances against, the shots against and we are going to have a lot more fun when we get the puck. I think that they are starting to see it. They should see it. They’re playing like they see it. The confidence is there right now.”

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