Jets set to face electrifying Lightning

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This article was published 09/12/2017 (2884 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA BAY — The Winnipeg Jets went with a three-goalie system during the pre-game morning skate today.

That’s a big positive for the NHL club.

Steve Mason rejoined the usual cast of characters wearing Jets practise jerseys at Amalie Arena, several hours before the team faces off tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Game time is 6 p.m. CT.

Mason participated in drills and took shots, along with goalies Connor Hellebuyck and fill-in back-up Eric Comrie.

Hellebuyck, sporting an impressive 15-3-3 record, 2.44 goals-against average and .921 save percentage, returns to the crease against other-worldy all-stars like forwards Steve Stamkos and Nikita Kuchev, blue-liner Victor Hedman, goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy and the rest of head coach Jon Cooper’s high-flying Lightning (20-6-2), the league’s top club.

Winnipeg bench boss Paul Maurice confirmed Mason passed all concussion testing requirements and could be removed from the injured-reserve list within days.

“He’s been working hard for a week and, to be honest, for us he said he felt fine for a week. He passed his test,” said Maurice. “There won’t be any turn-around time on him now. (He got) a good, hard workout today and we’ll make sure he gets off that plane tonight and feels good (Sunday) and then we’ll insert him back in.

“He needs to come off IR, and before that we have to make sure everything is right. He’s still got two more days to get through before we have to make that decision.”

Winnipeg (17-8-4) looks to return to a winning form at the tail end of a three-game trip away from home. The squad suffered back-to-back ugly defeats against the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers earlier in the week, and the sting is fresh enough to provide plenty of motivation, team captain Blake Wheeler said today.

“We got off our game a little bit…” he said. “Scoring chances haven’t changed. We’re still generating a ton of offence, but the other side of the puck we need to tighten up.

“Huge test, obviously, against (Tampa Bay) to try to get it back on track.”

Tampa Bay has won three staight, all on home ice. The team is off to its best start in franchise history with 42 points through 28 games, three more than the 39 it earned in 2014-15 through 28 games.

Maurice said the Jets’ game preparation remains the same, no matter which club they face. But he added his players are psyched up to meet the power-house Eastern Conference squad.

“Nothing changes in your routine. But there’s always a buzz in anticipation of playing the No.1 team. There’s that extra energy and knowing you have to be on your A-game,” he said. “To be honest with you, they’re more fun to play and they’re more fun to prepare for because you’re talking about positive things in the room, things we have to do to play well to have some success. It’s a good challenge.”

Stamkos, back from a serious knee injury that limited him to just 17 games last season, is on a torrid run this season. He’s the NHL points leader (41) and looks dominant on a line with 19-goal man Kucherov, despite maintaining he might never feel exactly like his old self again.

“I still don’t think I’m there, where I’m feeling like I felt before the injury, physically. But obviously things have gotten to a point where I’m definitely confident and comfortable out on the ice and just playing the game that I love,” said the Markham, Ont., product, coming off a three-point night Thursday against Colorado in a 5-2 victory.

The Lightning captain, who signed an eight-year, US$68-million contract in June 2016, tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee four months later in a game against the Red Wings.

Injuries have hindered Stamkos’ remarkable NHL career. He broke his right tibia after crashing into the goal post during a game in Boston in 2013 and missed 45 games. He also missed all but one game of the Lightning’s run to the 2016 Eastern Conference final while recovering from a blood clot near his collarbone.

“You have as many injuries as I’ve had, and the severity of them, it’s kind of a new normal when it comes to how you’re feeling, and I’ve come to grips with that and continued to work hard to keep improving,” said the 27-year-old former first-overall pick (2008).

“It’s a grind every day still. I’ve had some tough injuries, some very serious injuries that have a direct impact on how you feel physically every day. So, it’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of help from people to just get back to playing. I’m fortunate to be given those chances after what happened.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell