Bowness calls out Jets after listless loss to Flyers

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness was his team's harshest critic after a humbling 4-0 loss on home ice to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night.

"The difference makers, you couldn't even find them out there," Bowness said, per The Athletic's Murat Ates. "Until we make the commitment again that we want to play as a team, this is what you get."

Winnipeg's loss was its third in a row and fifth in 10 games. Philadelphia opened the scoring in the first period and finished the game with an advantage in scoring chances and expected goals at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Bowness said the Jets are reverting into last year's habits of late. Winnipeg missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons in 2021-22, and longtime head coach Paul Maurice surprisingly stepped down from his post before the midway point of the campaign.

"Right now we're going through a spell that as soon as the adversity kicks in, we're going on our own program," Bowness said. "Which was the problem all of last year. We thought we had corrected it, now we have to correct it again, and we will."

He added: "This group knows how to win. There is a price to pay in this league: You have to work, you have to compete, and you have to do it every night. As the season progresses, it gets harder."

Despite a recent skid, the Jets are in prime position to qualify for the postseason with a 31-19-1 record. Winnipeg will take on the St. Louis Blues on Monday night for a final tuneup before the All-Star break.

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