After a stellar rookie season in which he scored an impressive 36 goals in 73 games, many around the NHL expected Winnipeg Jets super sniper Patrik Laine to light it up this campaign.
Four goals in his first 11 games had fans and coaches in Winnipeg nervously awaiting a breakout from their franchise cornerstone piece, but thankfully for Jets supporters, Laine has recaptured his All-Star-level form over the last couple months.
Patrik Laine of the @NHLJets scored his 70th and 71st career goals to pass Steve Yzerman for the sixth-most in NHL history by a teenager. #NHLStats #WPGvsCAR pic.twitter.com/hKXl9E7rPI
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 5, 2018
The Jets have won six of their last eight, and a major reason for that has been Laine and his rekindled scoring touch. Here's a look at his numbers from his current eight-game point streak:
| G | A | GWG | S% | ATOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 6 | 2 | 47.1 | 15:01 |
Head coach Paul Maurice has moved Laine up and down his lineup and tried him with multiple different linemates, most recently pairing him with Nikolaj Ehlers and newly-acquired centerman Paul Stastny to positive results - the line combined for all three of Winnipeg's goals Sunday against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Regardless of who he's playing alongside, Laine's success is closely linked with that of the Jets. And with him hitting his stride at the most crucial point of the NHL schedule, you can expect a lot more Ws for Maurice's men.
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