If the final chunk of the season is to be Mark Scheifele’s audition as the Jets new No. 1 centre with Bryan Little out for the rest of the season, then Thursday’s handiwork would draw rave reviews from even the harshest of critics.
Occasionally matched up against Islanders star John Tavares, Scheifele finished the night with two goals in just under 22 minutes of work — the highest ice time for all Jets. He now has 17 goals this season — setting a new career high — and has five markers in his last seven games.
He had five shots on goal as the Jets’ dynamic top unit of Scheifle, Wheeler and Ehlers combined for 14 shots and was dangerous every time they hopped over the boards.