from Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press,
Sustainable success in the NHL is almost always underpinned by strong team defence. Keeping the puck out of the net comes first for winning teams.
The Jets have been unable or unwilling to grasp this concept for long stretches of play in the three previous seasons they've played in Winnipeg. Paul Maurice declared it his priority No. 1 heading into the off-season and so far his message is being heard.
Maurice wanted his team's goals against to improve. It has and the direct correlation has been wins. The Jets have allowed just seven goals in their last seven games and won six of them while collecting points in each one.
They've shot up the standings from last in the Central Division to third and now own a 7-5-1 mark.
Another key statistic for the Jets right now is Pavelec's save percentage, which bumped up to .924 after he stopped 23 of 24 shots Tuesday against the Predators.
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