Wheeler just wants a win, not revenge

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This article was published 07/03/2017 (3169 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blake Wheeler says retribution won’t be high on the list of priorities when the Winnipeg Jets face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at the MTS Centre.

It’s the first game between the two clubs since Wheeler was on the receiving end of a high hit to the head from Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin. The play caused a stir on the ice and Malkin was assessed a minor penalty. Malkin later set up the overtime winner in a 5-4 Penguins victory.

“My priorities rest in trying to get a win for our team,” said the Jets captain, who was pressed a few more times on the subject. “That’s where that lies. There’s no room for any of that.

“It’s a big game for our team tomorrow,” Wheeler added. “That’s it.”

The Penguins said they expect another physical game against the Jets. The two teams combined for 87 hits in the game Feb. 14 — Winnipeg led with 49 — with Penguins defenders Olli Määttä and Justin Schultz forced to leave the game after sustaining checks.

“They’re a big, strong, physical team. And that means we have to play with some snarl back against them. You have to do that,” the Penguins’ Matt Cullen told DKPittsburghsports.com earlier this week.

“It doesn’t mean we should change our style or anything like that. I think it brings out the best in us, to be honest. When it comes to battles, or teams trying to intimidate, or anything like that, we aren’t going to back down. I believe we’ll rise to the occasion. This is so good for us because this is the kind of hockey we’re going to face in the playoffs.”

Although the Penguins won’t want to sway from their game plan, they can at least afford to. With a record of 40-16-8, Pittsburgh is destined for the playoffs and could very well repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

As for the Jets (30-31-6), they’re still five points shy of the final wild-card playoff spot, and the teams ahead of them still hold games in hand. Winnipeg can’t afford to be undisciplined as it searches for a much needed two points, especially against a Pittsburgh team not only near the top of the NHL standings but also ranking third on the power play (22.3 per cent).

“If you’re sitting 20 points over the (playoff) line and you’re in, everybody gets a number,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “But I think we’ll play this one as hard as we can, as clean as we can because we don’t want them on the power play.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton