Stafford strives for success

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This article was published 09/01/2017 (3190 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There wasn’t a whole lot of sizzle but there was substance to Drew Stafford’s effort Monday night playing top-six minutes for the Winnipeg Jets.

The veteran right-winger, filling in for injured forward Patrik Laine on a line with centre Mark Scheifele and left-winger Nikolaj Ehlers, spent more time on the ice than he has in recent weeks and chipped in an assist as the Jets chalked up a tidy 2-0 triumph over the Calgary Flames at the MTS Centre.

Stafford dished the puck to blueliner Dustin Byfuglien, who barged down the right boards, cut in and then flipped the puck past Flames goalie Chad Johnson to open the scoring.

It was one of the few flashy plays of an otherwise solid but unspectacular victory for the hosts.

Stafford said while the trio didn’t perform miracles out there, enough went right to call the debut with the big line a success.

“It’s a little bit of a greasy game. It wasn’t pretty so there wasn’t a lot of points, but we have to get comfortable playing in those types of games,” he said afterward. “They aren’t always going to be pretty. Making plays and moving through the neutral zone isn’t always going to happen.

“Just gutting out a win like that, especially after the third period Buffalo, we definitely squashed that. We’re moving forward and that was a huge two points against a team we are definitely chasing.”

Earlier in the day, following the club’s morning skate, Stafford, who scored his third goal of the season Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres, his former club, said he was excited about getting a chance to play more of an offensive role after spending the last few games on the fourth line.

“Obviously, it’s unfortunate circumstances. We wish Patty the best. That was a tough one for him but he’s getting better day by day,” said Stafford. “In the meantime, we have to focus on winning games. The opportunity I have to slide in and hopefully contribute in more of an offensive role, I’m definitely gonna take advantage of it.

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“I’m not going to complain if they want to play me more. It’s tough when you’re used to a certain way and you have to adjust, but it’s about being professional and being part of the solution,” added Stafford, in his final year of a two-year contract in Winnipeg.

The Milwaukee product is used to scoring. He had 21 goals during the 2015-16 season — his first full campaign with the Jets — and previously netted 154 goals in 563 games with the Sabres.

“One hundred per cent, this is something I’ve been doing my whole career. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and will do my best to help this team in whatever I can and contribute and help win games,” he said. “If that’s playing there and hopefully providing some offence, it’s something I look forward to and relish the opportunity.”

Stafford, 31, missed 15 games earlier this season due to an upper-body injury.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell