Facing Devils tonight ‘an important game for us’: Jokinen

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This article was published 28/02/2013 (4635 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Olli Jokinen says don’t plan the parade just yet.

“We had some fun on the road and it’s great but we’re just a .500 hockey team. It’s great to have smiles on our faces and be happy to be at the rink but we need to go out tonight and keep this going. This is an important game for us.”

The Jets (9-9-1) host the New Jersey Devils (10-5-4) at MTS Centre tonight (7 p.m., TSNJets, TSN 1290) as part of a short two-game homestand before heading back out on the road for four games next week.

The Washington Capitals will be in Winnipeg on Saturday.

The Jets are coming off a successful road trip where they won four of five games including a victory over the New Jersey Devils last Sunday.

“We were able to change our attitude and go out and play to our potential,” said Jets winger Blake Wheeler, referring to the road wins. “But just one look at the standings and we can see that we’re not a playoff team and we’re only .500. That should keep us grounded and keep us hungry.”

The Jets will start Ondrej Pavelec (7-9-1) in goal while the Devils will counter with former Manitoba Moose netminder Johan Hedberg (2-3-1). Devils legend Martin Brodeur did not make the trip to Winnipeg due to a sore back.

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Winnipeg used the same lines in its morning skate as it did in Tuesday’s win over the New York Rangers and there are no lineup changes expected for tonight’s game.