Road warriors return

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This article was published 22/03/2025 (199 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Welcome home, strangers.

The Winnipeg Jets have only played four games at Canada Life Centre over the past 43 days, with 10 other contests taking place in enemy territory in addition to a 15-day hockey hiatus for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

They’ll finally get the chance to unpack their suitcases and make themselves comfortable as they get set for four straight dates at the downtown rink starting Sunday afternoon with a visit from the Buffalo Sabres. A win would officially clinch a playoff spot for the Jets.

“It’s great to be home again,” forward Cole Perfetti said following Saturday’s practice.

“Obviously, played lots on the road lately, so it’s nice to be at home and great to play in front of our fans. Four really big games, and every game matters so much now coming down the stretch. We know the task at hand, and we just have to take care of business.”

The Jets are 48-18-4 with 12 regular-season games remaining, including seven in their own backyard.

They have an eight-point lead over Dallas for the top spot in both the Central Division and the Western Conference. The Stars have one game in hand.

“We haven’t done anything yet. We haven’t clinched anything yet,” said coach Scott Arniel, who has been deliberate about his attempts to not let his group get too far ahead of itself at any point this season.

“We’ve still got a race going in the Central. They recognize that the two points (Sunday) is a very big two points, and then we’ll move on to the next one after that. At the end of the day, being home is always great but you’ve got to take advantage of it as well.”

Buffalo will be playing for a second straight day after a Saturday matinee in Minnesota. Winnipeg is 7-0-0 so far this year when hosting a team that is on a back-to-back.

“It really doesn’t matter who the opposition is and how they play. It’s really about what we need to do,” said Arniel.

“That first period is big. Us coming off a three-game road trip on the West Coast, we’ve got four at home here. We have to take care of our business. It’s what I’m going to say to the group tomorrow, let’s focus here on us being really good early on and give them a reason not to want to play.”

Eric Comrie is expected to get his 18th start in goal. Defenceman Luke Schenn will be in the lineup despite missing Saturday’s skate. He travelled back to Nashville on Friday to spend a couple days with his wife and three young children after being traded from the Predators to the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Jets in a 48-hour span earlier this month.

“It’s been whirlwind for him. He hasn’t got off that merry-go-round, it’s been just spinning for him,” said Arniel.

“I just wanted to make sure he has that time with his family. We are late in the year, we’ve all been playing a lot of hockey. For him to miss today’s practice, I don’t think it’s a big deal to jump back into it tomorrow.”

Schenn has been playing an increased role on a second-pair with Dylan Samberg, taking the place of the injured Neal Pionk who will miss a fifth straight game on Sunday and remains week-to-week.

“If, at the end of the year, we’re at the top of the standings that’s a feather in the cap, but I think we’re working for something that is bigger.”–Cole Perfetti

“I think that meant a lot to him,” Samberg said of the Jets telling Schenn to take a quick personal time-out. “It is tough for his kids who are in school to just get up and leave like that, but I think it was very important for him to go home and see his family. This organization is great with that for any family-related reasons.”

Winnipeg went 2-1-0 on a three-game road trip this past week which was book-ended by overtime victories in Seattle and Edmonton, along with a lopsided loss to Vancouver in between.

The Jets spent a good chunk of Saturday’s on-ice workout focusing on the struggling power play, which has gone just 1-for-16 over the past six games. It remains No. 1 in the league at 30.0 per cent but has been trending in the wrong direction for several weeks now.

“There’s been some games here where we’ve had some great chances and great looks and great power plays. It’s just the puck hasn’t gone in, and I think on a consistent basis, we could be a little bit more of that attack mindset,” said Perfetti.

“Teams obviously realize we’re the best power play and that they’re going to have to do something different, throw different looks at us. And every team is bringing their A-game. That’s what happens when you’re at the top and we’re seeing it first-hand. Now it’s on us to adapt and change and we’re going to see different looks in the playoffs and stuff like that.”

Arniel said one of the keys is getting more shots on net, both with the extra man and during five-on-five. The Jets have averaged about 28 shots a game this season, but only around 25 over the past 10 games (including only 20 against the Oilers on Thursday).

“You’re certainly seeing desperate teams. We’re seeing teams that are still in the playoff hunt that aren’t allowing you to get shots through,” said Arniel.

“The other side is, every team, they know what we’re doing offensively and our numbers. It’s what happens in the playoffs. It means you have to work at that to make sure you work to get inside, to get pucks, to get chances, to get second opportunities. I just think there’s been a real big focus on opposition, we’ve noticed it, taking away our rush game.”

Buffalo may already be well into next-year territory as the last-place team in the Eastern Conference but you won’t find the Jets taking them lightly.

“We are at the top of the league and everyone that comes in is going to give us their best game,” said Samberg. “We have been dealing with that all year and we just have to prepare the same way. Any team that is coming in, they are going to give us their best and we have to give them our best.”

After facing the Sabres, the Jets will entertain Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, followed by the New Jersey Devils on Friday and the Canucks next Sunday afternoon. Winnipeg is 25-5-4 at home this year.

“I think everyone wants to be at the top of the standings when it’s all said and done, that’s obviously a goal of ours,” Perfetti said of the Jets, who have never won a division title in either the 1.0 or 2.0 era.

“But we’re not looking at that as our outcome. I think we’re just taking it game by game. Each game is worth two points, and every two points is massive. So we’re just trying to focus on the next game, the next day. And if, at the end of the year, we’re at the top of the standings that’s a feather in the cap, but I think we’re working for something that is bigger.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg