FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: The struggling power play was a major focus at Saturday’s skate, both on the ice in drills and then in the locker room media availabilities. Winnipeg is just 1-for-16 over the last six games and haven’t really looked dangerous for the majority of time when they have the man advantage.
A more aggressive approach, along with getting more pucks to the net, would seem to be the priority.
Winnipeg Jets’ Cole Perfetti (91) chases Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) in Edmonton on Thursday. (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press files)
“I think on a consistent basis, we could be a little bit more of that attack mindset,” said Cole Perfetti. “Teams obviously realize we’re the best power play and that they’re going to have to do something different, throw different looks at us. And every team is bringing their A game. That’s what happens when you’re at the top and we’re seeing it first-hand. Now it’s on us to adapt and change and we’re going to see different looks in the in the playoffs and stuff like that. So we’ve got to make sure we’re dialed in and we’re ready to go. We have our plan, ust try to execute it with the best intent. And just get back to that.”
Speaking of Perfetti, he took some time to reflect on how far he’s come on a personal level. From a healthy scratch down the stretch last year to a play-driver now who has already set a new career-high in points, it’s been quite the change.
“It’s nice to be a part of it. It’s nice to just try to evolve my game and be a contributor on the best team in the league,” said Perfetti. “It’s a lot of fun to see your game over time, evolve. And it’s just great to be a part of this, and to be with these guys and trying to do something special.”
Perfetti’s line, along with Vlad Namestnikov and Nikolaj Ehlers, continues to impress.
Speaking of impressive, kudos to the Jets for telling defenceman Luke Schenn to spend the last couple days back in Nashville with his wife and three young children. The veteran was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 5, then flipped to the Jets on March 7. He flew to Winnipeg on March 9 and had spent nearly two weeks apart from his clan.
“It’s been whirlwind for him. He hasn’t got off that merry-go-round, it’s been just spinning for him,” said Arniel. “I just wanted to make sure he has that time with his family. We are late in the year, we’ve all been playing a lot of hockey. For him to miss (Saturday’s) practice, I don’t think it’s a big deal to jump back into it (Sunday).”
A little gesture like this can go a long way — not only for Schenn himself, but to the rest of the roster and just in terms of Winnipeg’s reputation around the league for how it treats players.
KEN SAYS: Schenn figures to be rejuvenated as he returns to game action and it’s difficult to overstate the importance of his addition, especially after the injury to Pionk.
He has moved seamlessly up the depth chart onto the second pairing with Samberg and continued to be effective. Through five games since he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Schenn has one assist to go along with 13 blocked shots and 32 hits. He’s up to 260 hits through 66 games this season when you count his time with Nashville — including eight in Thursday’s game. Never mind the folks who say a high number of hits means the player is spending too much time without the puck. In this case, all it means is Schenn knows how to finish his checks. He’s been a physical force and definitely added a much-needed element since his arrival.
While the Jets will be excited to get Pionk back from a lower-body injury once he’s fully healed, his absence meant Schenn got a test drive with Samberg, Haydn Fleury and some occasional shifts with Josh Morrissey as well. Schenn has been averaging 17:48 of ice time with the Jets, which is more than two minutes more than he was playing with the Predators. Some of that is due to Pionk’s injury, but it’s also an indication that Schenn can handle the additional responsibility.
Speaking of Morrissey, he keeps finding ways to add chapters to his storybook season. His ability to use his skating ability to drive the net before redirecting home a pass from Nino Niederreiter moved him to 11 goals through 69 games. By adding an assist on the OT winner from Kyle Connor, Morrissey is up to 54 points, which leaves him six shy of reaching the 60-point plateau for a third consecutive season.
Comrie is quickly approaching 20 starts and my prediction is that he’ll hit 22 before the regular season comes to a close. It’s tough to pinpoint when the other starts are going to be, but being between the pipes for four of the final 12 games would still allow starter Connor Hellebuyck to stay in a rhythm and get enough work down the stretch to be sharp for when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.
It’s been another disappointing season for the Sabres and the scary thing for the franchise is that they haven’t qualified for the post-season since the 2.0 era of the Jets returned to the NHL in 2011. One of the few bright spots has been the play of centre Tage Thompson, who has nine points during his past 10 games and is up to 34 goals and 60 points in 62 games. It’s the third time in four seasons that Thompson has been north of 30 goals (the lone exception coming last season when he finished with 29). He’s emerged as a consistent goal-scoring threat and is a candidate to represent the United States at the Olympics next February.
This should be a special afternoon for Souris product Tyson Kozak, who is expected to suit up in his 16th NHL game — and the first one in his home province. Kozak made his NHL debut against the Jets in Buffalo and looked to score his first NHL goal, but it was taken off the board after a successful coach’s challenge. He’s a feisty centre that has provided energy on the fourth line and isn’t afraid to get involved physically.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Tanev-Barron-Iafallo
DEFENCE
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Schenn
- Fleury-Miller
GOAL
Healthy scratches: D Stanley, D Heinola, C Gustafsson, C Kupari
Injured: D Pionk (lower-body)
BUFFALO SABRES
FORWARDS
- Peterka-McLeod-Thompson
- Zucker-Greenway-Tuch
- Benson-Krebs-Quinn
- Malenstyn-Kozak
DEFENCE
- Samuelsson-Dahlin
- Power-Byram
- Bryson-Clifton
- Bernard Docker
GOAL
Healthy scratches: None
Injured: C Kulich (concussion), C Norris (undisclosed), C Lafferty (groin)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dylan Samberg on not taking any opponent lightly regardless of their record:
“We are at the top of the league and everyone that comes in is going to give us their best game. We have been dealing with that all year and we just have to prepare the same way. Any team that is coming in, they are going to give us their best and we have to give them our best.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Mike is at the downtown rink and will game analysis of Jets versus Sabres along with a secondary story. You can find both in Monday’s print edition and online at winnipegfreepress.com.
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