Night that will last a lifetime

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/03/2016 (3490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

wfpvideo:113903297:wfpvideo

Plenty of boxes got checked off for Josh Morrissey in his first NHL game Saturday night.

The Winnipeg Jets’ first-round pick from 2013, thrust into the lineup against the Montreal Canadiens in an injury emergency, acquitted himself well and the Jets won to boot, dropping the Habs 4-2.

Morrissey played 15 minutes and 54 seconds with Tyler Myers as his partner, was put in the starting lineup by head coach Paul Maurice and made no major blunders, showing off some footspeed, puck movement and competitiveness.

“It’s a bit of a whirlwind,” Morrissey, 20, said after the game. “So many emotions. Having the opportunity to start the game, Paul giving me that chance, and standing on the blue-line, the ‘True North’ yell everyone does, playing the Canadiens, playing here at home, it’s Hockey Night in Canada and then being able to get the win, it’s a special night, something I’ll never forget.”

Morrissey said he was nervous only before he got to the MTS Centre Saturday.

“Once I got into the arena, as soon as I hit the ice, maybe as soon as I got through my first shift, I felt calm and I think that has to do with a lot of the other guys on the team.

“Then playing with Tyler, it’s self-explanatory. He’s an unbelievable player and an unbelievable person. He kept me calm.”

Myers had positive words for his Saturday partner.

“I thought he did really well,” the veteran blueliner said. “I know one of the strengths is his skating and I thought he used it really well tonight. He was moving his feet. I tried to talk to him as much as I could to make it as easy as I could for him.

“I thought he moved the puck well and I thought it was a great first game for him.”

Maurice wouldn’t commit to using Morrissey again tonight in the home game against Edmonton — Jacob Trouba may or may not be ready — but felt free to praise Morrissey’s first effort.

“I liked his game,” the coach said. “He was quick, he moves the puck well. He’s got good vision.”

In many cases, coaches shy away from young players and rookies because they’re untrustworthy.

“There are certain boxes that have to be checked to play in the NHL,” the coach said. “If they don’t have them all checked in their first game I’m not too worried about it.

“You give more room to a player on mental mistakes on things they haven’t seen before.”

Morrissey had a couple of run-ins with Montreal veteran Tomas Plekanec during the third period.

“I’ve watched him play many times on TV as a kid,” Morrissey said. “And watched a lot of Hockey Night in Canada. I was just trying to battle and protect the front of the net. That’s kind of a cool story I’ll have down the road.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca