Stafford keeping it simple in return to Jets lineup tonight

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This article was published 23/11/2016 (3271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Drew Stafford is happy to be healthy and back in the Winnipeg Jets lineup.

The Jets activated the veteran right-winger from injured reserve in time for tonight’s game against the Minnesota Wild (6 p.m., Sportsnet, TSN 1290). Forward Quinton Howden, meanwhile, was reassigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.

“Once I was able to ramp up the workouts off the ice and, eventually, on the ice, it made huge difference,” said Stafford, who has been sidelined since Oct. 25 and missed 15 games with an unspecified upper-body injury. “It’s definitely a relief when you can get back in and at least practise and train at a high level.”

Stafford will start the game on a line with centre Nic Petan and and left-winger Brandon Tanev. He’s planning a no-frills return.

“(Play) north-south, keep your legs moving,” he said. “Short shifts and take care of the puck. It sounds pretty simple, because it is.”

Defenceman Tyler Myers, meanwhile, was placed on IR retroactive to Nov. 11 with a lower-body ailment.

Connor Hellebuyck will get the call in net for Winnipeg while Minnesota counters with Devan Dubnyk.

Channelling Ovie

Jets rookie Patrik Laine is frequently compared to his idol, Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin. Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau, who coached the Russian superstar in D.C., suggested it’s not idle talk.

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“He’s got a tremendous release of his shot,” Boudreau said about Laine. “I used to coach a guy with a shot like that. He knows where to go, at the right times. He’s pretty smart. He’s just doesn’t blatantly go to areas he’s not going to score in. He’s a guy you definitely have to know where he is at all times on the ice.”

However, Laine is not a Ovechkin clone.

“Nobody has all those things Ovie has, where you’re 235 pounds and you lead the team in hits every year and yet you still score 50 goals,” Boudreau said. “The release of (Laine’s) shot and the quickness that he gets it off is very Ovie-like.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14