Spotlight on pivot Scheifele as he returns to Jets lineup

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This article was published 25/01/2016 (3519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you’re casting about for hope for the Winnipeg Jets, you could try to hook onto this development for Tuesday’s home game against the Arizona Coyotes.

The Jets expect to ice two legitimate scoring lines, one that will include second-line centre Mark Scheifele, who has missed seven games with a lower-body issue.

Scheifele was declared good to go at Monday’s practice at the MTS Centre and will centre speedballs Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers against the Coyotes.

Drew Stafford, who returned from injury Saturday, will skate with Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd on the other offensively capable unit.

Production has tailed off for the Jets since Scheifele’s post-Christmas practice accident — he has played just three of the team’s last 14 games.

In that time, the Jets have scored 29 times, barely two per game, and have netted just singles in each of their last four outings, including three straight losses at home. Their record has sagged to 21-24-3, last place in the Central Division.

Scheifele’s return was cause for some optimism, Wheeler said after Monday’s short practice.

 

“You get players back in your lineup, it definitely gives you a boost,” said the veteran winger, leading the team’s scoring chart with 45 points. “Somebody with as much enthusiasm as he brings to our locker-room, and just how hard he’s played this year… he’s really taken a step this year and his preparation and his day-to-day work has been phenomenal.

“We’ve really missed him and you can see the last few days of practice that he’s looked great.”

It was put to Wheeler that comments such as those were pretty high praise from an experienced player.

“He deserves that,” Wheeler said. “He’s really taken a step this year. Sometimes you see young players can get discouraged and young players can get in their own heads a little bit, trying too hard.

“That hasn’t happened once this year. He’s stayed with it, even if there are games where it’s been a tough game for him, or production hasn’t been where he’d like it at certain times. He’s battled and worked as hard as anyone.

“As a teammate, you really respond to that and you really respect guys who do that. He’s an emerging leader in our room.”

Scheifele has 12 goals and 23 points in 37 games this season. Tuesday will be the debut of this particular trio, though there has previously been considerable chemistry between he and Wheeler.

“I’m pretty lucky,” Wheeler said. “I’ve played with Bryan Little all year. And if it’s not Litts, it looks like it’s going to be Scheifs. I’m pretty spoiled in that regard, getting to play with guys that are great in their own zone first and foremost, really detailed guys, and they can carry the pace of play really well.

“Scheifs is one of our better skaters and whenever we’ve played in the past, it seems like it’s been more in the second half of the year, we do well together. Hopefully we can create some magic, starting tomorrow.”

Ehlers, whose game has advanced again in the last two or three weeks, was eager to join that kind of party.

“I think we’re three really smart hockey players who can do things at a high speed,” the 19-year-old said Monday. “So I think we can adapt for each other.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

— with files from Ed Tait