Published September 19, 2015
The Winnipeg Jets found the energy they have lacked for weeks and made new coach Paul Maurice a winner in his debut behind the bench by routing the Phoenix Coyotes 5-1 on Monday night.
Olli Jokinen, Eric O'Dell, Blake Wheeler, Michael Frolik and Devin Setoguchi scored for the Jets (20-23-5), who held a 38-19 shots advantage.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored for Phoenix (21-15-9), but that was the only shot that got past goalie Ondrej Pavelec.
Maurice got his first cheer during the national anthem when his face showed on the scoreboard. He took over after Claude Noel was fired on Sunday, ending his 2 1/2 years as the first coach of the Jets after the franchise relocated from Atlanta.
Ekman-Larsson gave Phoenix a 1-0 lead during a power play at 12:16, but the Coyotes didn't have much time to celebrate.
Jokinen batted a behind-the-net pass from Dustin Byfuglien past Mike Smith at 12:52 to tie it, and O'Dell scored his second of the season when he dashed in to snap in another shot at 18:00.
With the help of four power-play opportunities, the Jets outshot Phoenix 12-7 in the first period, but both of their goals were scored at even strength. Winnipeg's power play is ranked 25th in the NHL.
The Jets kept up the pressure in the second until Wheeler backhanded Mark Scheifele's rebound past Smith to make it 3-1. At the halfway mark of the period the Jets had outshot Phoenix 9-1.
Fans responded with cheers for the intensity the Jets brought to the game instead of the boos that have rained down on the team after some of their more lackluster recent efforts.
Frolik made it 4-1 at 4:18 of the third when his angled shot beat Smith's glove.
Winnipeg's power play continued to be struggle until midway through the third when Setoguchi dropped to one knee as he slammed a shot past Smith. Byfuglien earned his second assist of the night.
Phoenix (21-15-9) lost its third in a row and continues to slide following a 14-4-4 start.
NOTES: This was only the third time the new Jets have played the old Jets since the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg. The teams will meet two more times now that they are both members of the Western Conference.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/jets-rout-coyotes-to-break-5-game-skid-give-new-coach-paul-maurice-a-winning-debut