Rookie D-man Nogier makes NHL debut with Jets tonight

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This article was published 21/03/2017 (3157 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nelson Nogier will make his NHL debut tonight as the Winnipeg Jets take on the Philadelphia Flyers.

Nogier, 20, was called up from the Manitoba Moose on Monday and takes the place of Ben Chiarot, who was injured in Winnipeg’s 5-4 win over Minnesota on Sunday and is considered day-to-day. He joins an injury-plagued Jets defensive corps already missing Jacob Trouba, Toby Enstrom, Tyler Myers and Paul Postma.

As a result, Winnipeg’s back end tonight will be comprised of Nogier, fellow AHL call-ups Brian Strait and Julian Melchiori, along with Mark Stuart, Josh Morrissey and Dustin Byfuglien.

“He’s going to play with a bunch of people. We’ll try to get a feel on that real early where he’s comfortable,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said this morning, referring to Nogier. He spoke to the rookie pro, telling him to savour the moment, which will include family members, who have travelled from Saskatoon to watch his NHL debut.

“You only get one of these. You can win 10 Stanley Cups and 10 Norris trophies but you’re only ever getting one (first) game,” Maurice said. “

There’s a whole family and a whole extended family that sacrificed as much as you did to get here. So take a deep breath, take in the national anthems. Enjoy the heck out of it. If you score three you’re not getting a 10-year, $20-million deal. And if you’re minus-one after your first shift we’re not pulling you off the bench. Just relax and play the game.”

Michael Hutchinson will make his first start in net since Jan. 16. He came on in relief Sunday of Connor Hellebuyck, who was pulled after surrendering four goals through two periods.

“He’s going in with some confidence,” said Maurice.

Winnipeg (32-33-7) will be looking to get back to the .500 mark as they face Philadelphia (33-30-8) for the only time this season at MTS Centre. The teams met earlier this year in Pennsylvania, with the Flyers winning 5-2.

Both teams are well outside the playoff line and are essentially playing out the string on their seasons.

“As a group you just try to adapt. Everyone’s got to step up a little bit and handle a little bit more of a load and share that responsibility as a group,” Morrissey said of the depleted defence corps. “Tonight we just have to try and do it by committee.”

The Jets and Flyers have engaged in some memorable games over the years that often feature plenty of offence.

“We need to keep building on what we do well, continue working hard,” said forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who was seated next to Nogier in the dressing room this morning.

“It’s awesome for a guy like him. He’s a great guy, it’s going to be exciting for him. It will be a pretty cool experience to get out there,” said Ehlers.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca