One dubious slashing call and game a barnburner

ONE call that got made Thursday -- and probably shouldn't have been -- turned a pedestrian scoreless tie through 49 minutes into a wild affair to the finish in Washington.

Toby Enstrom of the Winnipeg Jets was whistled for slashing, when he chopped down on the stick of Washington's Matt Hendricks. Hendricks' stick broke, but the Jets still contended Friday it was because Hendricks twice hacked Enstrom with force.

While Enstrom was in the box, Alex Ovechkin had the first of Washington's two power-play goals.

"After that slashing call on Toby, it was nice to get that one back," said Enstrom's teammate Tanner Glass about the Jets responding with two power-play goals of their own.

"I don't think there's that much to talk about," Enstrom said. "You can't change the call the ref makes.

"From my point of view, he broke his stick over mine and that's what happened. But it's in the past."

Wellwood, Stapleton OK

The Jets are likely to have two pretty smart players back in their lineup today, when Kyle Wellwood and Tim Stapleton draw in against the Penguins.

Wellwood missed the games against Toronto and Washington this week with the flu, while Stapleton has been out nine games with a lower-body injury.

Stapleton's activation off the injury reserve list means the Jets need to drop a player to meet the 23-man maximum. Though he has played very well, centre Aaron Gagnon is the likely candidate to go back to the AHL's St. John's Ice Caps.

Bogosian questionable

On Friday, defenceman Zach Bogosian didn't practise with the Jets.

He blocked a shot on Thursday and Noel said Bogosian's status will be a game-time decision before today's contest versus Pittsburgh.

'Yotes interest Roenick

As the Phoenix Coyotes situation continues to stagnate, an unlikely -- but outspoken -- former member of the team has expressed some interest in saving the club.

Jeremy Roenick was asked this week if he finds any attraction with the NHL-run club.

"I have been involved with a group that is trying to get into the game. I do have people in New York, friends of mine, that are ready and willing to wait to see. But everything moves at a snail's pace," Roenick said to The FAN 1060 in Phoenix on Thursday.

"I have been involved in the background. I do have people that are willing to look at it and have the dough behind it. But getting involved in the National Hockey League... it's kind of a boys' club.

"We'll see what happens. But the team is very, very interesting. If you can somehow get a hold of the building along with the team, then it becomes a different scenario."

Roenick currently lives in neighbouring Scottsdale, and according to the Arizona Republic, he was approached weeks ago by Greg Jamison. Jamison -- the former CEO of the San Jose Sharks -- has expressed his interest in buying the team.

Roenick played six seasons in Phoenix with the Coyotes.

Teemu hedging trade bets

The Anaheim Ducks had a horrific start to the year but have dramatically improved in the past two months.

Once 20 points out of a playoff spot, the Ducks pulled to within 10 points prior to Friday's game in Detroit.

That's given veteran winger Teemu Selanne pause when asked if he would consider a deal to a contender. Selanne has a no-movement clause in his contract.

"I have tried to avoid that question," Selanne said to the Orange County Register. "We still have (hope). Everybody in this room believes that we can make the playoffs and I think that would be almost wrong to even think about any other options. That's not in my mind right now. Let's see what happens.

"This trip is going to pretty much decide which direction we're going to go."

-- Staff/ Postmedia

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 11, 2012 C2