Winnipeg Jets already ahead of schedule

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Alex Burmistrov, at Friday's informal workout, wants to play centre. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

The real document -- the one without lines and checkmarks scribbled on it and looking far more legitimate -- will likely be released today on official NHL and Winnipeg Jets letterhead.

But a leaked copy of the 2013 Winnipeg Jets schedule released on Twitter Friday morning had this town giddy with anticipation.

Think Steve Martin in The Jerk when the new phone book arrived...

The document appears to be a first draft of the schedule and was first released by fan Carter Chen on his Twitter account (@CarChen) but was missing some games and times. Later, Christine Lev posted a full schedule (@Lever1313) on her account.

Sources say the NHL was still tinkering with the schedule, but that this one looks accurate.

The Jets will open the 2013 season next Saturday at MTS Centre with a matinee game and then play six of their next eight on the road, including back-to-back contests in Boston and Washington on Jan. 21-22.

Some other notes about the leaked schedule:

-- Winnipeg would play its 48 games over 97 days, from Jan. 19-April 25.

-- The schedule features seven instances of games being played on consecutive nights.

-- The Jets' Southeast Division breakdown of opponents would see them face Florida and Washington five times with four games against each Carolina and Tampa Bay.

-- The Jets will also play three games each against the rest of the Eastern Conference teams.

-- The Jets are to be on the road for eight of 14 games in February, but finish up with seven of their last eight at the MTS Centre.

Burmi wants to play centre

HE'S hoping the timing will be just about right this weekend when NHL training camps are expected to open.

Alexander Burmistrov, still on official assignment to the AHL's St. John's IceCaps, has missed time since early December with a shoulder injury.

He's been to Winnipeg a couple of times for medical care and assessment and he's back again this week, hoping to be healthy enough to start camp with the NHL team.

While with the IceCaps during the lockout, the 21-year-old from Kazan, Russia scored two goals and 11 points in 22 games.

He said Friday there's only one position on his mind this season with the Jets.

"I want to be centre," Burmistrov said. "That's my game. And if me and Antro (Nik Antropov) play together, it doesn't really matter who's centre because we're both everywhere on the ice."

Burmistrov had 13 goals and 28 points last season with the Jets in a variety of roles.

For his third NHL season, his team has brought in a couple of experienced players up front in Olli Jokinen and Alexie Ponikarovsky.

"Pony is an older guy and he will bring some leadership in here," Burmistrov said. "You need those guys in the dressing room who can step up and get guys going."

Burmistrov also said Friday that he hasn't heard a lot of chatter yet among Jets players about what this season's forward lines could be.

"We're not talking about it," he said. "We're just practising now and we'll see what Claude (Noel, Jets' head coach) will say. It doesn't matter right now."

-- with files from Tim Campbell

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @WFPEdTait

JETS UNOFFICIAL 2013 SCHEDULE

Sat. Jan. 19vs. Ottawa

Mon. Jan. 21@Boston

Tue. Jan. 22@Washington

Fri. Jan. 25vs. Pittsburgh

Sun. Jan. 27vs. NY Islanders

Tue. Jan. 29@Montreal

Thu. Jan. 31@Florida

Fri. Feb. 1@Tampa Bay

Sun. Feb. 3@Buffalo

Tue. Feb. 5vs. Florida

Thu. Feb. 7vs. Toronto

Sat. Feb. 9@Ottawa

Tue. Feb. 12vs. Philadelphia

Fri. Feb. 15vs. Pittsburgh

Sun. Feb. 17vs. Boston

Tue. Feb. 19@Buffalo

Thu. Feb. 21@Carolina

Sat. Feb. 23@Philadelphia

Sun. Feb. 24@New Jersey

Tue. Feb. 26@NY Rangers

Thu. Feb. 28vs. New Jersey

Sat. March 2vs. Washington

Tue. March 5@Florida

Thu. March 7@Tampa Bay

Fri. March 8@Florida

Sun. March 10@New Jersey

Tue. March 12vs. Toronto

Thu. March 14vs. NY Rangers

Sat. March 16@Toronto

Sun. March 17@Ottawa

Tue. March 19vs. Boston

Thu. March. 21vs. Washington

Fri. March 22vs. Washington

Sun. March 24vs. Tampa Bay

Tue. March 26@Carolina

Thu. March 28@Pittsburgh

Sat. March 30vs. Carolina

Mon. April 1@NY Rangers

Tues. April 2@NY Islanders

Thur. April 4@Montreal

Sat April 6vs. Philadelphia

Tue. April 9vs. Buffalo

Thu. April 11vs. Florida

Tue. April 16vs. Tampa Bay

Thu. April 18vs. Carolina

Sat. April 20vs. NY Islanders

Tue. April 23@Washington

Thu. April 25vs. Montreal

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 12, 2013 C2