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DALLAS — The Winnipeg Jets have reconstructed their top lines once again as they attempt to push their winning streak to five games against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
Jets head coach Rick Bowness has reunited Kyle Connor with Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi, while moving Nikolaj Ehlers back with Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli.
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When asked what went into the decision, Bowness gave this explanation.
“They’ve got to tighten it up a little bit. We split them up because they were spending a little bit too much time in our zone,” said Bowness when asked first about the reunion of Connor and Scheifele. “Again, if we want to get some continuity with our offence and some lines, they’ve played together a lot. We’ve got to get them going. It’s as simple as that.
“The Ehlers, Monahan and Toffoli together, before Tyler got sick, they were scoring every game. So, we’ve got to get a little more balance up front on those top two lines.”
The Jets’ hot streak includes Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators, while the Stars have won 10 of their past 11 outings, the lone loss coming against the Chicago Blackhawks last Saturday (which snapped an eight-game winning streak).
Dallas has won the first three meetings of the season while outscoring the Jets 9-3.
The prospect of avoiding a series sweep seems secondary.
David Gustafsson will play on the left wing with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton against the Dallas Stars Thursday night. (Alex Gallardo / The Associated Press files)
“These are two critical points (in the standings). We don’t want to give them up. A regular-season series doesn’t matter a whole lot going into playoffs. It’s a different animal,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “Maybe a bit of confidence, we want to continue playing well, we want to continue building on our game. That’s the thing we’re most focused on is continuing to climb the standings, put ourselves in the best position possible going into the postseason.
“Dallas is one of the best teams in the league. We have to be ready (because) it’s going to be a tough matchup. We really like the team we have in here and it’s about going out there and performing against one of the best teams.”
The Jets will make one lineup change up front, inserting David Gustafsson for Cole Perfetti. He will play left wing with Lowry and Mason Appleton.
“(Gustafsson) does such a good job on both sides of the puck,” said Lowry. “His forechecking skills are really underrated. He’s so smart in the defensive zone, he’s great in the circle. Adding a defensive mind like that to our line, we’ll get a lot of (defensive) zone starts, I’m assuming.
“Having someone you can rely on, he makes simple plays but they’re really smart. He’s quick to spots, he’s got an underrated shot. When he’s come in and he’s played for us, he’s played really well this year. It’s been an unfortunate situation for a lot of guys. We have so many great forwards and there are so many options, and there are only so many spots in the lineup. He comes in and works every day. I know he’ll be ready and I’m looking forward to that opportunity with him.”
Laurent Brossoit is set to make his 21st start in net and 22nd appearance of the season for the Jets. The Stars will counter with starter Jake Oettinger, who is 5-0-1 and has posted a 1.99 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in six games against Winnipeg.
Although the sample size is small, Brossoit is 2-0-1 with a 1.90 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in three career starts against the Stars.
WRITERS’ NOTE:
Let’s get warmed up for the playoffs! The Free Press is gearing up to help Jets fans get playoff-ready with a special hotstove session featuring hockey writers Mike McIntyre, Ken Wiebe and sports editor Jason Bell. The event is set for Wednesday, April 17, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Free Press atrium at 1355 Mountain Ave. Our roundtable will be a wide-ranging discussion with plenty of time for you to ask questions. Space is limited, so the first 50 people to respond by email to patronperks@freepress.mb.ca by noon on Friday, April 12, will book their participation.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
Mike says: I’m coming to you today from lovely St. Paul, Minn., where I have the privilege of covering my first-ever “Frozen Four.” There are just four NCAA teams remaining in the championship hunt, including top Jets’ forward prospect Rutger McGroarty and his Michigan Wolverines. I’m down here working on an in-depth feature on the young man, which will run on Saturday, but I’ll also have coverage of tonight’s tilt between Michigan and Boston College, with the winner moving on to Saturday’s final against either Denver or Boston University (they play this afternoon).
One of the big questions still to be answered is whether McGroarty will join the Jets as soon as his season ends, which will either be tonight or Saturday night. Stay tuned. Whenever it happens, the future is certainly bright.
Now, back to the present, with the Jets requiring a much better effort against the Stars than what they produced against the Predators 48 hours ago (not including goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was really the only reason they stole two points). With time ticking away at getting playoff-ready, facing a team that can clinch the Central Division with a win (and remain in the hunt for the Presidents Trophy) and who also happens to be a perfect 3-0-0 against you so far this season would qualify as a heck of a tune-up.
As I mentioned in this space on Tuesday, opening the first round of the playoffs at Canada Life Centre (rather than in Denver, where the Colorado Avalanche have the best home-ice record in the league) might be a very big deal. And the Jets are very much in control.
The math is simple: Whatever Colorado does in its final three games (vs Winnipeg, at Vegas, vs Edmonton), Winnipeg needs to be two points better over its final four games (at Dallas, at Colorado, vs Seattle, vs Vancouver). In that sense, tonight is the most important game of the year. At least until the next one on Saturday in the Mile High City. Followed by the next one. And then, most likely, the next one.
I’m curious to see how the Jets come out, even if my eyes tonight will be primarily focused on McGroarty and company here in Minnesota.
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was really the only reason they beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena. (Mark Humphrey / The Associated Press)
Ken says: The reunion of the top line will be under the microscope this evening and it’s simple. If Scheifele and Connor want to play on the same line when the playoffs begin, they’ll need to show they get more than they give up against teams like the Stars and the Avalanche.
Finding some continuity from the top two lines is something Bowness spoke about, though he pushed back when asked if there was a level of frustration to be searching for that chemistry with his top two scoring lines so late in the season.
“Again, it’s the circumstances. We were set for a while and then Tyler got sick, Gabe got hurt and everything. We haven’t been able to get it going, you’re right,” said Bowness. “Listen, we’ve got 102 points so far. Let’s not lose sight of that. We’ve had a really good regular season up until now and we’re not finished. We’re still pushing for home ice in that first round. Let’s not forget where we are. We’ve had a great year. We have.
“But now, we do need to get some continuity out of those top two lines, for sure. The third and fourth lines are just as important. You see how well that fourth line has played. They got another big goal for us last game. It’s not just the top two lines. We’re trying to get continuity with the four lines.”
Although Nino Niederreiter could return to action as early as Saturday, this is a great opportunity for Gustafsson to show what he can do on the line with Lowry. This is a trio I proposed going into training camp a few years ago and it’s one I am intrigued to watch.
The Stars have one of the deepest rosters in the NHL and I’m looking forward to seeing how well former Manitoba Moose blue-liner Chris Tanev is fitting in with the group.
In a conversation on Thursday morning, Stars head coach Peter DeBoer was raving about the impact Tanev has made, on and off the ice, since his arrival in the trade with the Calgary Flames.
Rookie forward Logan Stankoven has also done an excellent job of integrating himself into the lineup, chipping in six goals and 14 points since his recall from the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League.
Here’s some other information to get you ready:
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