12°c Light rain showers
8°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Byfuglien to miss game tonight as Jets battle Lightning
Dustin Byfuglien (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Related Items
-
Articles
TAMPA — Dustin Byfuglien will miss a second straight game for the Winnipeg Jets, leaving them to battle the 5-1-0 Tampa Bay Lightning tonight (6:30 p.m. CT, TSNJets, TSN1290) without two of their top blueliners.
Byfuglien aggravated some lower-body injury prior to Thursday’s morning skate in Sunrise, Fla., and didn’t play in the 6-3 loss to the Panthers.
Jets defenceman Zach Bogosian has not played yet this season, recovering from wrist surgery.
However cold it was at home in Winnipeg Thursday night, it was equally frosty outside the Jets’ locker room in south Florida after the loss to the Panthers.
Head coach Claude Noel was angry and venting after his team surrendered three more power-play goals, two of them in the third period that ruined a pair of one-goal leads it had taken over the Panthers.
He was calmed down this morning at the Tampa Bay Times Forum after morning meetings.
Asked about the mood of his team today, Noel said: "Disappointment. For me, a lot of guys are unhappy the way they played, the way we let that game get away."
After killing just three of six Florida power plays, the 3-3-1 Jets have sunk to dead last in the NHL’s penalty killing rankings, at a terrible 63.6 per cent, more than 16 per cent below the league average.
Tampa Bay’s power play is No. 5 in the NHL.
"We covered some penalty-killing stuff, their power play," Noel said today. "Talked about some different things we’ll re-assess again tonight.
"So we have to be better in a lot of ways. The players are disappointed, obviously. It’s disappointing in the way we gave up that game but we’ll put it behind us and move forward and try to get better.
"Obviously there are some areas where we need to get better."
Jets defenceman Mark Stuart said the team doesn’t have a fear of killing penalties, even after being burned twice this week in third periods for winning goals.
"No, I wouldn’t say afraid," Stuart said. "You just have to get the job done. Penalty kill is a lot about will and getting the puck out and blocking shots and it’s a lot about positioning and all four guys being on the same page. Unfortunately last night, we weren’t that.
"It’s something we’re working on and talking about."
Stuart said the Jets’ mood is "ready."
"Ready for another game," he said. "We know it’s a tough challenge ahead tonight."
Tonight’s game is the back half of the second of eight back-to-back instances the Jets will have in this 48-game season. It was a major weakness last season but Winnipeg scored a victory in its first attempt this season, winning in Washington 10 days ago.
Tonight, in addition to keeping defenceman Zach Redmond in for his second NHL game, Noel could look to other moves.
He hinted at that this morning, leaving open the option to use rookie Mark Scheifele in his fourth game this season.
"We’re going to potentially make some moves," the coach said. "It’ll be a game-time decision."
More NHL
- Back to Top
- Return to NHL
More NHL
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Alfredsson, Brown, Toews named finalists for Messier leadership award
10:16 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular NHL
- Colin Greening has OT winner in Senators 2-1 victory; Penguins lead series 2-1
- Sweden beats Switzerland 5-1, wins gold at world hockey championship
- Ex-Jets MacLean, Carlyle on Sochi coaching list
- Canada's Paul Henderson, Danielle Goyette enter IIHF Hall of Fame
- Young, 7th-seeded Red Wings have evened 2nd round series at 1 with top-seeded Blackhawks
- Sharks fined $100,000 for GM Doug Wilson's comments about Raffi Torres' suspension
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- 'Peg sniper aims for MemCup success
- Alfredsson breathes new life into Sens with short-handed goal in third period
- Johnny Boychuk breaks tie, Bruins beat Rangers 5-2, take 2-0 lead in Eastern Conference semis
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Boston completes miraculous comeback in overtime to oust Maple Leafs
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- 'It's the worst feeling'
- The Boston OT Party
- Fast start for Hawks
- Tale of two stars as Crosby outshines Karlsson in Penguins 4-3 win over Senators
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors sells hoard that brought him closer to game
- Colin Greening has OT winner in Senators 2-1 victory; Penguins lead series 2-1
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Men's locker-room no place for women says hockey commentator Don Cherry
- Grapes claims women have no place in locker-room
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Former Leafs GM Burke files defamation suit
- Slideshow: Things that didn't exist the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs
- Sens packing plenty of punch
- Boston completes miraculous comeback in overtime to oust Maple Leafs
- Get it through your thick head, NHL
- From the rubble of disaster: Lokomotiv picking up pieces after entire team was killed in a 2011 plane crash
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- The Boston OT Party
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors sells hoard that brought him closer to game
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Slideshow: Things that didn't exist the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs
- Men's locker-room no place for women says hockey commentator Don Cherry
- Classy group joining Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
- Tim Leiweke named president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
- Sens-Habs series gets ugly:Eric Gryba suspended two games for Lars Eller hit
- Pesky Sens: Turris scores in OT as Ottawa beats Montreal to grab 3-1 series lead
- Sharks will be without injured F Adam Burish for 2nd round of playoffs
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- The Boston OT Party
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.