Reinforcements arrive as Jets prepare for crucial game against New Jersey

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This article was published 23/01/2016 (3523 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reinforcements are arriving for the Winnipeg Jets at an absolutely critical time in their season.

The Jets, who have lost two straight and have dropped four of their last five at MTS Centre to tumble further out of the NHL Western Conference playoff picture, are expected to have both Drew Stafford and Alex Burmistrov back in the lineup tonight against the New Jersey Devils (6 p.m.; Sportsnet/TSN 1290).

“Reasonably confident (they will return),” said Jets coach Paul Maurice after Saturday morning’s skate. “We’ll give them the afternoon to make sure they feel as good as they did this morning and then we’ll have to make a decision.”

Meanwhile, Mark Scheifele is also close to returning and will likely be back in the lineup Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes. He has missed the last six games since being injured in Dallas on Jan. 7. Adam Lowry remains a post-All-Star game likelihood.

Maurice had Stafford on a line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Mathieu Perreault at centre, moving Joel Armia down to the third line with Burmistrov and Chris Thorburn. The return of Stafford means the Perreault-Ehlers-Armia combo that has been solid is busted up. And the rationale, Maurice explained Saturday, is simple:

“Smaller picture that line has played pretty well. Bigger picture is we didn’t win a couple games with them in that (combination). Drew has to come in with players that best help him access his talent. At the same time, you want to be careful about throwing him in on a No. 1 role. So you try and find that middle ground and give him a chance to be as good as he can be and, at the same time, don’t put too many minutes on him early in the game because he hasn’t played in a little while.”

The Jets are also experimenting with some changes to their power-play, moving Dustin Byfuglien to a forward role in front of the net with Ehlers and Tyler Myers manning the point on the first unit.

“It’s just a different way of moving the puck across the top,” said Maurice. “A different mindset of what we’re doing when we get the puck, what our goal is, where we’re trying to attempt to get the puck to the net.”

The Jets have gone three games without a power-play goal (0-for-8) and have surrendered a power-play goal against in five of their last six games.

“We need a spark there,” said Jets captain Andrew Ladd. “That’s one area that has to be better. That’s such a big part in gaining energy throughout a game or getting a big goal when you need it. That’s an area we need to be better in. We need to try different things and different units. Hopefully we’ll find some success tonight and roll with what we have.”

The Jets head into the game at 21-23-3, eight points ouf of the second wild-card spot and just two points ahead of Edmonton, last in the Western Conference.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait