Maurice sticking with same Jets lineup tonight in Calgary

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This article was published 21/11/2018 (2481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That seems to be the approach being taken by Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice these days when it comes to his lineup.

The same 18 skaters who have played the past five games — in which the Jets have gone 4-0-1 — will be on the ice tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome when they take on the Calgary Flames. Puck drop is set for 9 p.m. (Sportsnet, TSN 1290).

That means Brendan Lemieux and Sami Niku will once again be on the outside looking in as the 12-5-2 Jets play the second game of their four-game road trip, which began with a 6-3 victory Monday in Vancouver.

“I like the way we’re playing right now. I want to build that confidence in our group, that would be priority 1 for me,” Maurice said Wednesday.

Connor Hellebuyck will get the start in goal for Winnipeg. David Rittich will be in net for the Flames, who won their last two games over Edmonton and Vegas to improve to 12-8-1.

Calgary’s big four offensive players — Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm are all averaging more than a point per game through the first quarter of the season and can be a handful for opponents.

“They are always a tough matchup, especially in this building” Jets captain Blake Wheeler said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “They put a ton of pressure on our defencemen with the way they break the puck out. Their forwards are quick, they get out of the zone and it makes it hard for defencemen to have a tight gap. That’s a big key to our game.”

The Jets are feeling pretty good about their offensive game as well, after putting up 49 shots and six goals against the Canucks. That included a hat trick for Patrik Laine, the sixth of his young career.

“He’s a weapon. Especially when he feels good about his shot, when he’s confident. He’s proven he can really score from everywhere,” said Wheeler.

The road trip continues Friday afternoon in St. Paul against the Minnesota Wild and wraps up Saturday evening in St. Louis against the Blues.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg