FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: The numbers are truly eye-popping for Connor McDavid. He’s gone 16 straight games with at least a point, although the majority have involved much more than that. McDavid has 17 goals and 22 assists in that span and is just on an entirely different level than all of his peers.
The Jets actually did a solid job mostly keeping him in check 10 days ago, with McDavid held to just a single assist that night. McDavid had two assists in a 6-2 victory over Winnipeg back on Dec. 6, so a guy with 28 snipes already this season (second only to Nathan MacKinnon) is still looking for his first against Arniel’s crew.
Speaking of Winnipeg’s bench boss, I asked him about the process in scratching Namestnikov, who has gone 17 consecutive games without a point and has one assist in his last 29 outings. This comes on the heels of sitting down Nino Niederreiter last week in Toronto, while also icing the likes of proud veterans like Nyquist and Tanner Pearson at various points this year.
“It’s the worst part of being a head coach. It really is. Having to tell a player that he’s not playing, it sucks and I hate doing it,” Arniel said.
“But this isn’t out of the blue. We’ve been talking for two months, we’ve been talking for the last couple of weeks. This isn’t something that came out of left field on. They all know that we need results. It’s a results-driven business. Believe me, I’ve got the utmost respect for Vladdy. At the end of the day, I’m trying to spark us. I’m trying to find a way. I’m trying to do something that maybe gives us that edge tonight.”
Since the Jets have clearly been unwilling to put anyone on waivers to bring some fresh legs to this roster, Fleury’s injury opened a door that otherwise might have remained shut. That now allows Arniel to some additional flexibility, which is a long overdue development in my eyes. Too many players have gotten far too comfortable when it comes to their spots.
A quick bit of math to end things today: History suggests it’s going to take at least 90 points to have a sniff of a playoff spot. That means the Jets, with 35 at the midway mark of the season, would need 55 at bare minimum over the remaining 41 games. (So, like 27-13-1, for example. Or 26-12-3). And even 90 might not get it done, with upwards of 94 or 95 often required. (So, like 30-11-0, for example. Or 29-10-2).
In a word: Yikes.
KEN SAYS: What an opportunity this is for Zhilkin, a player that turned heads since the prospect tournament in Montreal and carried it over to having an excellent training camp with the Jets. This is reminiscent of when Jansen Harkins took a big league and forced his way onto the NHL roster. Zhilkin has an incredible backstory, having moved with his family to Canada at nine years old to pursue his dream of playing in the NHL.
Zhilkin was grinning from ear to ear this morning when he came off the ice after the morning skate, sharing stories about how he found out about being recalled to the NHL for the first time and making his NHL debut against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.
Namestnikov has been mired in an extended offensive drought and there’s a chance Zhilkin could get a bit of runway here in an audition to take over as the fourth-line centre. That’s not to say Namestnikov is going to be out of the lineup long, but I expect he will move over to the wing, provided Zhilkin’s two-way game translates to the NHL level.
Speaking of opportunities, moving Toews onto the top power play unit is a smart call. He’s playing his best hockey of the season, with four assists during the past six games, and his passing ability and vision have been on display with regularity throughout the course of the season.
“They move the puck so well. They’re so good at finding each other and creating shots, and sometimes you don’t touch the puck as much in that situation, but you’ve just got to get to feel like you’re in the play and you’re influencing it one way or another,” said Toews, asked about being used in the pop position in the slot. “Be ready for when those pucks do become loose and try and help with the recoveries, and just try and make things happen around the net. So it will be nice to get that opportunity tonight and see if I can help them out.”
Toews has also been dominant in the faceoff dot this season, so adding that to the top unit should allow the Jets to start with possession a bit more often in the offensive zone.
I wrote about former Jets forward Jack Roslovic when the Oilers were here recently and he’s now on a line with former Winnipeg Ice star Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning after winning the Hobey Baker Award last season with the Michigan State Spartans.
There’s a lot of skill and speed on that line, so the Jets will need to worry about more than just trying to minimize the damage caused by McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
Perfetti-Toews-Vilardi
Barron-Lowry-Niederreiter
Koepke-Zhilkin-Pearson
DEFENCE:
Morrissey-Pionk
Samberg-DeMelo
Stanley-Schenn
GOAL:
Hellebuyck
Comrie
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Miller, F Nyquist, F Namestnikov
INJURED: D Fleury (nose, back)
EDMONTON OILERS
FORWARDS:
Nugent Hopkins-McDavid-Hyman
Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen
Howard-Roslovic-Savoie
Frederic-Lazar-Janmark
DEFENCE:
Ekholm-Bouchard
Nurse-Stastney
Stillman-Emberson
GOAL:
Pickard
Ingram
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Regula, F Mangiapane
INJURED: G Jarry (lower body), D Walman (undisclosed), C Henrique (undisclosed)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on his current mindset:
“We can’t stay still here. We’ve got to try stuff. We’re turning over stones, trying to find something. Whether it’s Danny (Zhilkin) coming into the lineup, guys going out, whether it’s on specialty teams, we’ve never gone down this road with JT (on the first power play unit). The one avenue for us that it does open up is that it opens up his faceoff ability, being on the left-hand side and then looking at how Edmonton goes with who comes over the boards first for them. A little bit playing into it that way. (Toews) is a guy, like I mentioned the other night there, his game is starting to trend in the right direction in the last five or six games. We’re looking for a little bit of a spark and he’s got some great experience over the years, playing on power plays, and hopefully that will help him.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken has an early story coming on Danny Zhilkin, who spoke this morning about his unique pro hockey journey and the emotions surrounding his NHL debut. Mike will handle the game analysis of Jets versus Oilers. You can find both pieces in Friday’s paper and online at winnipegfreepress.com.
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