Copp to centre Laine and Ehlers

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This article was published 15/02/2018 (2764 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Accustomed to top-six billing, forwards Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers will need to embrace third-line work tonight to make amends for some shoddy play of late.

The young Europeans, occasional linemates during the 2017-18 season as well as the season before, and best pals away from the rink, have dropped a rung and will flank dependable checking centre Andrew Copp when the Jets host the Colorado Avalanche at 7 p.m.

Neither has been out of sight lately in an offensive capacity — each has two goals in the club’s last six games — but a more pressing concern is some casual and careless defensive play.

Laine was a minus-7 in his past three games — a 5-2 defeat to the St. Louis Blues, a 3-1 loss to the New York Rangers and the 4-3 overtime victory over the Washington Capitals.

Ehlers was a minus-4 during the same span. His giveaway late in the first period Sunday against New York led to a pivotal goal by Mats Zuccarello that sparked the visitors. He wasn’t strong enough on the wall to ensure pucks cleared his own end Tuesday against the Caps, was loose with his defensive coverage and racked up roaming charges in the Washington end without creating much buzz.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice didn’t call their numbers much in the final period, despite the Jets’ desperate need for offence.

The Danish forward, who turned 22 Wednesday, didn’t mince words when asked to assess his play of late.

“To be completely honest, I’ve played like s—,” said Ehlers after morning practice Thursday, who has 21 goals this season, but just two in his past 13 games. “I know what I need to do to be better next game, and I have to go out and do that.

“Not satisfied with the way I’ve played at all. It was pretty much everything. I didn’t work hard enough, I wasn’t able to keep the puck on my stick. Defensively, I was losing my guy. It’s something I have to get back to. I know I can do it, so it started in practice today.”

After the skate, Laine, who leads the club with 25 goals, had some disparaging words for his recent performances, as well.

“Well, I have ‘dash-7’ in three games, so it’s not very good,” he said. “Overall, I don’t like my game right now, so just try to get better. That’s the key, work hard and hopefully it can get better than this.”

Laine said he’s excited about the new trio’s potential.

“It’s nice to be able to play with Nik and now this gentleman (Copp) in the middle; he’s working super hard every single shift and has a lot of skill, also. I think it’s going to be a good line.”

Jets centre Mark Scheifele, coming off a three-point effort against Washington, was between Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor during morning line rushes, while Bryan Little centred Mathieu Perreault and Jack Roslovic.

Those units jump-started the Jets’ dramatic comeback against the Caps.

Maurice said the line-juggling reflects the heady play of Roslovic and Connor just as much as the need to give Laine and Ehlers a chance to work things out on another unit.

“This isn’t an A-plus or an F on their performances. Sometimes, other guys are going better and you want to make sure you recognize that, too,” Maurice said. “I think Roslovic was going really well, and that’s what we needed in that game.

“I don’t even think it’s a demotion. (Laine and Ehlers will) play a bunch of minutes, big minutes. They’re going to get all their power-play time. They’re going to play with a little bit different centre, and play against different people as well.”

While he’s recorded a career-high 12 assists this season, Copp isn’t perceived as a playmaker. But the Ann Arbour, Mich., product, dealing with his own excruciating two-month, 27-game scoring drought, is excited to find out what damage the trio can do.

“They’re our two leading goal scorers,” he said. “Obviously, these two are such dynamic players that they can put the puck in the net at any time. I can’t change anything about my game just because I’m playing with these two. I have to make sure I’m doing all the little things that makes me a good NHL player.

“Those guys are so offensive, and with some of that maybe comes a little bit of risk. I’m used to (Adam Lowry), he’s such a calming presence, and you look at (him) and (Ehlers) and maybe think they’re polar-opposite players, right? And both in good ways, so adapt to that style.”

Tonight’s game is the Jets’ eighth straight on home ice, with two more to go.

The Jets host the Florida Panthers on Sunday night and the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday before heading out to battle the Blues in St. Louis next Friday and the Stars in Dallas just 24 hours later.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell