Jets bring intensity to scrimmage at training camp

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This article was published 20/09/2015 (3697 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It will be forgotten soon enough – likely was as soon as those involved pulled off their skates afterward.

That said, Sunday’s Winnipeg Jets scrimmage at MTS Iceplex had just the right amount of intensity and edge to have coach Paul Maurice positively beaming afterward.

For the record, Team Blue beat Team White 5-4 in the intra-squad affair that saw Blue hold a 4-1 advantage then give it up in a 3-on-3 session before Andrew Copp scored his second of the afternoon for the winner.

Brendan Lemieux, Jay Harrison and Dustin Byfuglien also scored for Blue with Mathieu Perreault scoring for White in regulation and Paul Postma, Nikolaj Ehlers and Jacob Trouba in 3-on-3.

“There’s no play-fighting even between brothers at some point. It gets physical,” said Maurice afterward. “There was great intensity and that’s a real good sign. That’s more an indication of they play who they are. It’s not even an exhibition game, it’s a scrimmage so it’s two down on the rung of competition but the level was really good and hard. Good pace.

“There were a few plays you saw happen — behind-the-back-passes that go into the slot won’t go into an exhibition game or an NHL game, but after that there was an awful lot that looked like an NHL hockey game.

“I wouldn’t go back-to-back scrimmages right now based on what I just saw. If I had a scrimmage scheduled for tomorrow, I’d call it off because you don’t want to lose that. And, also, that was enough.”

Earlier in the day Jets defenceman Tyler Myers practised with his teammates for the first time in camp. He injured himself in training just before camp and the team wanted to be cautious before getting back on the ice.

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“It feels really good. I got my first skate in with the guys today,” Myers said. “To be honest, I was battling the conditioning side of it more than what I’m dealing with. I don’t think it will take too long to get that back. I think in another few days I should be good.”

Andrew Ladd did not participate in Sunday’s scrimmage after tightening up after practice on Saturday.

“Because of last year and what we know about our veterans, none of these guys are coming off the ice easily,” said Maurice. “They won’t pull themselves out, they’ll play hurt. Anybody that’s got anything that’s bothering them right now, we keep them off the ice.”

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait