Maurice puts Jets through their paces ahead of game against Lightning

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This article was published 18/02/2016 (3522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Winnipeg Jets’ bounce-back ability will be under the microscope tonight at Amalie Arena.

The Jets, nine points outside the Western Conference playoff picture at the moment, are coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss Tuesday night Raleigh, N.C.

Not only that, but their coach, Paul Maurice, decided to inject an extra level of seriousness into Wednesday’s off-day practice here in order to prepare for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning (6:30 p.m. CT, TSN3, TSN1290).

That practice was 45 minutes of intense work on battle and quickness followed by about seven minutes of skating laps.

The skating part was a bit unusual given that it was on the day before a game but a 52- minute practice is by no means a punishment, nor was it a bag skate.

“What’s important is the mindset at the game,” Maurice said this morning. “We went 50 minutes yesterday and it was a stiff skate but it wasn’t all that tough.”

What’s also important, the coach said, was that his 25-28-3 team respond on the ice tonight.

“A little bit of an edge would be appropriate coming off a loss, that you didn’t like your performance,” he said. “It should be a little quieter morning skate, some focus at game time and there should a bit more of an edge.

“That’s the NHL, all part of the learning process for this team to push themselves through it.”

Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba said Maurice’s message was received.

“It’s definitely that we need to be better,” Trouba said today. “The message was sent and we know that. As players, you kind of have to react to it, you react in a positive way. And you come ready to play.”

The reset is what NHL players are good at computing, Trouba said.

“You just have to be ready to play another game,” he said. “A lot of our starts in the last game was made before the game in our preparation. Mentally and physically, we need to be more on the ball and that message was sent. So you get back to your game and learn how you need to prepare.”

Jets defenceman Tyler Myers said the focus is ahead, not behind.

“We’re going to have to bring our best and it starts with pre-game,” Myers said. “Yesterday was a good work day for us, flush the legs out a little bit. And I think everyone’s in the right mindset to get ready for tonight.”

The Jets will come back with Ondrej Pavelec for a third straight start after his 33-game injury absence.

The Lightning are going to counter with backup Andrei Vasilevsky, a move that’s been planned for some time.

Tampa Bay has lost four of its last five games to slip just below the Eastern playoff line, tied for the last spot at 64 points. This slide is after a run of 10 out of 11 wins.

“It’s vital, that’s the word,” coach Jon Cooper said about tonight. “Eight or nine days ago, we were feeling pretty good about ourselves and then five quick games later and we’re looking up and seeing a whole bunch of teams ahead of us.

“You have to put a cork in the hole here to stop the leaking.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca