Scott Arniel calls out Jets with a surprising admission after loss to Utah
Jets coach Scott Arniel was having none of it after yet another loss, and admitted his team is inconsistent and said that Utah really brings out the worst in them.
The Winnipeg Jets left Sunday's game with just a single point, and it hardly changes the story of their season. A 4-3 overtime loss to Utah dropped the team to 15-17-3, just one point above last place overall.
What Scott Arniel admitted about the Utah Mammoth
After winning the Presidents' Trophy last year, expectations were high. Instead, slow starts and uneven play have become the norm, leaving head coach Scott Arniel constantly searching for answers as the team struggles to find its rhythm.
"Another real... what's the right adjective here? That first period was ugly," Arniel told reporters in Utah. "It was really ugly. We've done it in this building before. Certainly, Utah brings out the worst in us."
"That's a bad start by everybody," the coach continued. "And it just got us behind the eight-ball and then we're chasing the game. We got better in the second, certainly dominated in the third. But you can't play two periods in this league and look to have success."
"That's 35 games of inconsistency... in the remaining 47, that has to change."
- Scott Arniel
"That's a bad start by everybody," the coach continued. "And it just got us behind the eight-ball and then we're chasing the game. We got better in the second, certainly dominated in the third. But you can't play two periods in this league and look to have success."
"That's 35 games of inconsistency... in the remaining 47, that has to change."
- Scott Arniel
The numbers tell the story. The Jets have just three wins in their last 16 games and a 6-16-3 record since Nov. 4. Scoring is heavily concentrated on one line, while the rest of the roster has failed to make consistent contributions.
Why the Jets don't look as good as had hoped
Offseason additions from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff haven't delivered the boost hoped for, and the team often looks disjointed and slow when games tighten.
Sunday's late push against Utah showed effort, but the bigger picture is clear: the Jets aren't clicking as currently built.
A five-day break starting Monday gives the team a chance to reset and reflect. When they return to the ice, they'll need more than energy and effort; they'll need answers and a plan to turn things around.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 22 | 103 ANSWERS Scott Arniel calls out Jets with a surprising admission after loss to Utah Does Utah bring out the worst in Winnipeg? | ||
| Yes | 76 | 73.8 % |
| No | 27 | 26.2 % |
| List of polls | ||