Morrissey says Jets have plenty to play for

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This article was published 23/03/2017 (3156 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LOS ANGELES — The Winnipeg Jets are 10 points out of the final wild-card playoff spot in the NHL’s Western Conference with nine regular-season games remaining. Any legitimate post-season hopes have evaporated.

It would be simpler to throw in the towel and even though their stretch run may appear like a death march to outsiders, rookie Jets blue-liner Josh Morrissey said he has plenty of motivation.

“You have to come to the rink every day ready to work,” said Morrissey following Thursday morning’s pre-game skate at the Staples Center as the Jets prepped for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings (9:30 p.m., TSN3, TSN 1290).

“Obviously, this time of the year it’s tough when you kinda see the writing on the wall a little bit but at the same time, that’s part of being a professional. It’s what you get paid to do.”

The Jets, 33-33-7, have responded lately and played some of their best hockey of the season while building their second three-game winning streak of the season.

“For us as well, individual players are trying to increase their stature on the team for next season,” said Morrissey. “So, there’s a lot to play for that way and as a group, I mean, we’re trying to put some new things into our game and have habits the right way — Winnipeg Jet hockey — down the stretch.”

Morrissey seemed poised to return to a pairing with Jacob Trouba this morning but head coach Paul Maurice said Trouba, nursing an upper-body injury, will not play tonight.

“He’s not going to go today but we think he’s getting fairly close,” said Maurice. “Maybe tomorrow (against the Anaheim Ducks).”

The Jets play in Anaheim Friday night (9 p.m.).

Morrissey will remain paired with recent AHL call-up Brian Strait while Julian Melchiori will play with Dustin Byfuglien and recently promoted Nelson Nogier will be paired with veteran Mark Stuart. Morrissey, a lefty, will play the right side again.

“It’s different, it’s not your natural position,” said Morrissey. “You have to adapt to it and embrace it. I don’t mind playing the right. I’ve played the right growing up. It changes a few things but after several shifts and a few periods, you kinda get used to it.”

Up front, forward Brandon Tanev has returned from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and will be slotted in on a line with Nic Petan and Chris Thorburn. Maurice likes what the future holds for Tanev, who has two goals and four points in 42 games with the Jets this season.

“He gets a chance at the American League to handle the puck more, play more minutes,” said Maurice. “And that should translate. We like the structure of his game here at the NHL (level). He skates well, he’s on the puck. He makes some pretty darn good reads defensively. We look at him as a guy we’d like to develop into a penalty killer as well. For a player like that, to develop you need to touch the puck and it’s a bigger challenge here.”

Tanev takes the spot of Marco Dano, who is out with an unspecified injury.

Meanwhile, after starting goaltender Michael Hutchinson in Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Jets will start with Connor Hellebuyck against the Kings tonight. Hellebuyck started the previous 16 games for Winnipeg.

The Kings, 34-31-7, will counter with Ben Bishop in net tonight.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14