No-goal calls have Jets fans fuming, chanting

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This article was published 30/09/2016 (3287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It can be hard enough to score in the defensive-minded NHL these days. So fans at the MTS Centre were a wee bit unhappy — that’s putting it mildly — when a pair of goals were waved off this week in exhibition play.

On Thursday, Drew Stafford appeared to score a short-handed goal against Minnesota in the third period, but the goal light didn’t go on and the referee emphatically waved it off. In-house replays later showed the puck entered the net before quickly exiting.

On Friday, Brandon Tanev made a beautiful rush that ended with him banging his own rebound out of the air into the net. The referee waved it off because of a high stick, but replays showed it may have occurred under the cross bar and therefore been a good goal.

In both cases, the on-ice calls stood. That’s because there is no instant replay or coaches challenges during the pre-season.

“The capacity crowd all saw it. They were the video replay booth,” Jets assistant coach Jamie Kompon said of Stafford’s non-goal.

While they may have been missing the usual regular-season protocols, we can report fans were in mid-season form with their “Refs, You Suck” chants.

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He’s not the biggest dog in the yard. But forward Chase De Leo believes he’s got the speed needed to be successful in today’s game.

De Leo had a big night Thursday with two assists, then found himself back in the lineup Friday. He’s a long- shot to start the year with the Jets but is looking to build off a strong 2015-16 season that saw him lead the Manitoba Moose with 19 goals to go along with 21 assists.

“Obviously, (with) one year pro now under your belt, you want to prove you’re ready to play in the NHL. You don’t want to wait too long in the minors and miss any chance you’re getting. I just want to make a mark and prove that I’m ready to play,” De Leo told the Free Press.

The 20-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and is looking to climb his way up the organizational ladder. Although he stands just 5-9, his speed creates space on the ice.

“That’s going to be the name of the game for the Jets this year, I think, is the quick transition, quick on the forecheck and a lot of speed. I think every guy on this team is fast and quick, and that’s the key to success,” he said.

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When you rank a player’s skills on the ice, the ability to communicate usually isn’t listed. But Josh Morrissey says it can be a huge asset, especially to someone like him trying to crack the Jets roster. On Thursday night, he was paired with Tyler Myers on the blue line and was raving about the towering defender’s verbal assistance.

“One of the biggest things that maybe you don’t see as a fan or somebody in the stands is how much he talks. He talks all the time. He’s always talking, you always know where he is,” Morrissey said. “That probably accounts for four or five easy plays a game where you’re in a tough spot. He calms you down, too. He’s just a really solid guy, and I just love playing with him.”

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They’ve been going hard for eight straight days, but today will be a day off for the 60 players who remain in Winnipeg Jets training camp. However, coaches and management are expected to be busy and will likely make the first set of roster cuts.

The Jets have just four pre-season games remaining, including Sunday night in Calgary and back home Monday night against Ottawa.

They’ll likely want to get close to their expected opening day roster in short order, which means today could see a significant trimming of numbers.

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Dustin Byfuglien left Friday night’s game late in the second period and didn’t return with what the team called a lower-body injury. Kompon said he was held out for “precautionary reasons” and should be fine.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca