Jets start among the best in NHL history thanks to Hellebuyck and team chemistry

NEW YORK — Nikolaj Ehlers looked back to the end of last season when asked why the Winnipeg Jets were historically good at the start of this season.

“The end of last year was a big wake-up call,” Ehlers told NHL.com at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. “The season was frustrating when we then had to lose in the play-offs.

“I think we all knew we had to change some things, and it wasn’t the players that did it. It was our mentality, the way we went to work every day. It worked.”

The Jets came here with a 14-1-0 record and became the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games in a season. They won their first eight and continue their six-game winning streak with a game against the New York Rangers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN3).

With a victory, they would become the fastest team in NHL history to reach 15 wins.

Based on Ehlers’ points, Winnipeg finished last season with 110 points (52-24-6), good for second in the Central Division behind the Dallas Stars’ 113 and fourth in the NHL.

However, they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five games, losing four straight to the Colorado Avalanche after winning Game 1 in the Western Conference First Round.

“You forget that we were fourth in the league in points in the regular season,” forward Kyle Connor said. “I think our consistency and commitment to coming out and getting the guy next to you and making sure they play their best tonight is on another level this year.”

Recovering from the end of last season and staying determined is part of the Jets’ success story in the first month and beyond of this season. But there is more, much more.

Here are four reasons why the Jets are first in the NHL standings alone and in various statistical categories: goals per game (4.47), goals scored per game (2.07), power play (41.9%), comeback wins (seven ) and goal difference (plus-36, 67-31):

1. Connor Hellebuyck

The Jets had one of the best goaltenders in the world in 12 of 15 games.

Hellebuyck, who will compete against the Rangers, leads the NHL with 11 wins and three losses. His 1.83 goals-against average and .935 save percentage rank first among goaltenders with six or more plate appearances.

Dallas Stars forward Roope Hintz broke the Jets record for longest shutout streak by going 191:47 without a goal before scoring at 18:38 of the third period in Winnipeg’s 4-1 win on Saturday. Hellebuyck made 96 saves during the streak and the Jets scored 11 consecutive goals.

“We have a lot of confidence in him, and having a goalie like that makes everything easier,” Jets forward Mark Scheifele said. “Obviously he’s been fantastic. Some nights we play great in front of him and make the night easier, other nights we need him to pick us up and he does that. That’s the sign of a good team.”