Par Lindholm to make debut with Jets in Columbus

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This article was published 03/03/2019 (2380 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

COLUMBUS — Par Lindholm will make his Winnipeg Jets debut tonight as the team kicks off an important four-game road trip in Columbus.

The 27-year-old Swede, obtained last week at the trade deadline from Toronto, will take the place of centre Adam Lowry, who has been suspended for two games as a result of a high-sticking incident during Friday night’s win over Nashville.

“Well, first of all, we want to win this game. I’m just going to try to work my ass off, contribute in that way,” Lindholm said following the morning skate at Nationwide Arena.

Lindholm has one goal and six assists in 61 games this season for the Maple Leafs after coming over from Europe on a one-year free-agent contract. He was traded for Nic Petan, who made his debut with Toronto on Saturday night and scored the game-winning goal against Buffalo.

“I’m really excited. It’s going to be so much fun getting out there again. I just can’t wait,” said Lindholm.

Connor Hellebuyck looks to get the start in goal tonight after missing Friday’s game with the flu. He was a full participant in the morning skate and the first goalie off the ice. However, coach Paul Maurice wouldn’t confirm his No. 1 netminder is playing.

“I will not be revealing any goalie information today. That’s just the mood I’m in,” said Maurice. “All I’m going to do is start slowly – I’ve got lots of confidence in this hockey team to make the playoffs and I’m going to slowly get you guys prepared for that information embargo.”

Forward Matt Hendricks and defenceman Bogdan Kiselevich are expected to be healthy scratches, joining Lowry in the press box. Injured defencemen Dustin Byfuglien and Joe Morrow are both on the road trip but aren’t expected to play this week, while Josh Morrissey remains back home in Winnipeg recovering from an injury expected to sideline him until early April.

The Jets are coming off one of the more complete efforts of the season in Friday’s win. Winnipeg fell behind 2-0 late in the second period, then rallied for the victory. They lead the Central Division by one point over Nashville, although they have three games in hand on the Predators.

Columbus should be a desperate team after they lost 4-0 on home ice Saturday afternoon to the Edmonton Oilers. They are now two points behind Pittsburgh for the final Eastern Conference wildcard playoff spot. Making the post-season is a must for a team which held on to pending UFA’s Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin at the trade deadline, then added three more UFA’s in Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid while trading away numerous draft picks and prospects in an attempt to go all-in this season.

“They’ve added players, but not just guys on the periphery of their hockey club, they’ve put guys right into starring roles. They’re a lot different. Like our team, we’re still learning about it now, where you would play guys. They’ve moved their lines around a fair amount in their last game (and) that was probably score induced, but more information gathering about what they can do going forward,” Maurice said of the Blue Jackets.

“They’ve got lots of skill now. They’re structured now in a lot of similar ways to our team, especially when Adam (Lowry) is in the lineup. We have a similar look on each line. They’re a very disciplined team but they find a way to play a hard game in a disciplined structure. They don’t take a lot of penalties, but they still finish checks and compete hard.”

It will be a special night for Jets forward Jack Roslovic, who will play an NHL game in his hometown for the second time. He actually made his NHL debut here two seasons ago.

“I grew up watching them and I still keep tabs on them. They’re a good team and they had a tough one last night, but we’ve got to be ready for it because their bounce-back is probably going to be pretty good. They’re going to work hard and we’re coming off a good win against Nashville and want to keep things rolling too,” said Roslovic, who expects to have plenty of family and friends on hand tonight cheering him on.

The road trip continues Tuesday in Tampa, followed by games Friday in Carolina and Sunday in Washington.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter; @mikemcintyrewpg