This is not the kind of start the Jets had hoped for while bringing hockey back to Winnipeg. At least their collective confidence does not appear to be shaken too much.
Looking to avoid a third consecutive loss, the Jets return home to the site of their lone victory Saturday night when they face the Carolina Hurricanes.
Winnipeg (1-4-1) has scored 11 goals this season - no more than three in any game. The Jets recorded 36 shots Thursday but had only Dustin Byfuglien's first-period goal to show for the effort in a 4-1 loss at Ottawa.
"It's finding ways to win games, you have to create something," Jets coach Claude Noel said. "In some areas they have to do a better job."
Winnipeg is 2 for 25 on the power play and its top scorer is 20-year-old center Alex Burmistrov with five points.
Even mired in a rough start, the Jets are doing their best to stay focused and not put too much pressure on themselves to get back on track.
"It's the small things, stick together as a team," said Byfuglien, who has a goal and two assists this season. "We've got to work together. We'll take the positive things and move on."
Trying for a second straight home win after beating Pittsburgh 2-1 on Monday, Winnipeg could face a stiff challenge against a Carolina team that has won eight of the last 10 meetings against the former Atlanta Thrashers.
Hurricanes forward Brandon Sutter has five goals and two assists during that stretch against the Jets franchise. He had a goal and an assist Friday, but Carolina (3-2-2) had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 3-2 overtime loss at St. Louis.
"It wasn't our best, but we'll take the point and go," coach Paul Maurice said.
Though the Hurricanes have recorded at least one point in four straight games, they certainly felt they let one slip away after taking a 2-0 lead in the second period.
"It's tough," said center Jeff Skinner, who has two goals and four assists this season. "You want to stick with it. I thought we played a gritty game but we got away from it."
Cam Ward made 40 saves Friday, but it's uncertain if he will be in net for this contest. Ward has posted a 1.96 goals-against average while winning six of his last seven starts against the Jets franchise but Maurice might be leaning toward giving Brian Boucher his second start in this back-to-back scenario.
Boucher compiled a 2.99 GAA while dropping his last four starts against the Jets when they were based in Atlanta.
Whichever goalie starts might face a Winnipeg lineup without forward Andrew Ladd, whose status is uncertain after he was struck in the nose by a puck against Ottawa.
"We're just going to get him checked out and make sure he's OK," Noel said. "Players always want to play so their going to give you the utmost to get in the lineup so I'm not quite sure."
Ladd has just one goal in six games this season but had two and two assists versus Carolina in 2010-11.
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