More veterans, college phenom Connor taking on Wild

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This article was published 29/09/2016 (3288 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets will be looking for their first preseason victory — and first preseason goal — when they hit the ice tonight at MTS Centre against the Minnesota Wild.

Winnipeg was blanked 3-0 Tuesday in their exhibition opener against Calgary.

Only four skaters from that lineup will be dressed tonight — forwards Brandon Tanev and Andrew Copp and defencemen Brian Strait and Josh Morrissey. The other 14 players will be making their preseason debut.

Connor Hellebuyck is expected to get the start — and finish the game — in the Jets’ net.

Hellebuyck was the third goaltender selected for Team North America at the World Cup but didn’t see any game action. He’ll be looking to make a good first impression this season, considering he’s locked in a battle with Michael Hutchinson and Ondrej Pavelec for the two goalie positions on the roster.

“Now that I’ve got some NHL games I know what to expect. But every training camp you come in here ready to show them everything you got and try to make the team,” Hellebuyck said following Thursday morning’s pre-game skate at MTS Iceplex.

Brian Little will centre the top line Thursday, along with Drew Stafford and Nikolaj Ehlers.

“It’s what we’ve been working for all summer,” Ehlers said. “I’m just going to go out there… use my speed and get my legs going.”

Stafford said he’s looking forward to playing with a pair of speedy, skilled linemates.

“I’m just trying to play solid defensively here, clean it up a little bit, get the summer habits out a little bit. At the same time see if we can score a couple goals,” he said.

Jets fans anxious for a look at prized prospect Patrik Laine will have to wait a little longer. Laine isn’t in Thursday’s lineup but could see his first game action Friday night when the Jets host the Edmonton Oilers at MTS Centre.

However, another promising rookie will make his debut Thursday. Kyle Connor will play on the second line along with Mathieu Perreault and Alexander Burmistrov.

“I’ve been skating with him since the first day here. I’m been pretty impressed with him. He’s a great skater, I see a lot of speed, he sees the ice very well. It seems like when the play’s there and I’m open he seems to find me. You can’t teach that, so it’s good to see,” Perreault said, referring to Connor. He suggested he may give some friendly advice to the 19-year-old coming off a tremendous college season.

“The nerves are going to be there at first, Perreault said. “He’s been doing so well so far; I think if he just keeps doing that he’s going to be fine.”

Tanev may have been the Jets’ best player in Tuesday’s game and he’ll get another look Thursday, this time playing on a line with Chase De Leo and Chris Thorburn. The other line will see Copp centering Marko Dano and Scott Kosmachuk.

Puck drops at 7 p.m.

INJURY UPDATE: Five players with injuries missed Thursday’s camp workouts. Shawn Matthias, Anthony Peluso, Patrice Cormier and Ryan Olsen are all considered day-to-day, assistant coach Jamie Kompon said. Brendan Lemieux is still listed as week-to-week after getting hurt in the Young Stars tournament in B.C. earlier this month.

CUTS COMING: Kompon also revealed the first round of cuts may come on Saturday. The Jets still have 60 players in camp and will only have four remaining exhibition games after playing Thursday and Friday at the MTS Centre.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca