The butterflies are over for Patrik Laine

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This article was published 02/10/2016 (3286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Patrik Laine will be butterfly-free when he suits up for the Winnipeg Jets for a second time on Sunday night.

The 18-year-old right-winger will appear in his second straight game of the preseason when he straps on the skates for Winnipeg’s meeting with the Calgary Flames in the Saddledome later today.

The 2016 No. 2 overall draft pick admits the nerves got to him on Friday night at MTS Centre before he hopped over the boards for the first time in a Jets jersey.

“I don’t think I’ll have that problem anymore,” he said following Sunday morning’s pre-game skate at MTS Iceplex. “It’s always the first game, it’s the hardest one. It’s done and I can try to focus to the next game without the butterflies in my stomach.”

The Finn said he took in plenty of new experiences during Friday nights game, namely everything.

“Everything is new, the arena and the fans… everything is different than I’m used to,” he said. “Just getting used to the game style. I think it was nice to get it over with.”

Laine skated on a line with Bryan Little and Joel Armia on Sunday morning as the game group put in a light skate before catching an afternoon flight out west.

“Both can pass, they’re really good playmakers and they can score also,” Laine said. “I think we will have a good game with the lines today and try to make some chemistry between the three of us.”

Laine said he hopes to get back to his game when the puck drops at 8 p.m. CST.

“Maybe stay on the puck a little bit more and not always push myself if it’s one against three—dump the puck and then change,” he said.

Ondrej Pavelec is set to start in goal for the Jets and is expected to man the crease for the full 60 minutes. Eric Comrie is set to back up the 29-year-old Czech netminder.

Meanwhile, rearguard hopeful Josh Morrissey figures into the lineup for the fourth time in as many preseason games on Sunday night.

The puck-moving defenceman said he wants to play as many games as he can.

“I think the more games you play, the more opportunity you have to show your game,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing. I want to keep getting better every game and make the most of every opportunity that I have been getting.”

Also appearing in his fourth preseason contest is former Providence College standout, winger Brandon Tanev.

The 24-year-old continues to get a long look from the Jets brass.

“Each game I’ve been getting better and improving on the things I need to do day in and day out,” Tanev said.

After sitting out on Friday night, centre Andrew Copp returns to the lineup on Sunday night and brings with him his 70-plus per cent success rate from the faceoff dot through two exhibition games.

“It’s something I focused on in the offseason, something I take a lot of pride in,” he said. “I don’t think I did a good enough job of that last year, so I’m really trying to bear down win as many draws as I can.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbilleck