FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: I can’t remember the last time I was able to type the word “None” next to the injured section of the roster you see below. But, aside from perhaps some undisclosed issues from the Jets, that would appear to be the case tonight.
Gabe Vilardi returned in Game 5 last series only for Mark Scheifele to go down with an injury.
Nikolaj Ehlers returned in Game 6, only for Morrissey to get hurt in the opening minutes of Game 7.
Scheifele returned for Game 1 against Dallas, and now Morrissey looks to do the same in Game 2.
Depth players such as Logan Stanley and Rasmus Kupari have also been nursing hurts but would appear to now have the green light, even if there’s currently no room in the lineup for them.
Obviously, the game is won on ice, not on paper, but this is the best Jets lineup we’ve seen in quite some time. It’s also making for some tough decisions — and tough conversations — which I asked Arniel about this morning.
How does he approach a warrior like Schenn, for example, and tell him he’s not going to play tonight? That must be one of the worst parts of your job?
“It really is,” Arniel replied. “Everybody wants to play every night, and it’s hard conversations. But guys also recognize, too, that we’re hoping to play for another month here, and we’ve used everybody, or a lot of guys already. And they’re still part of it. And it may happen as quick as Game 3.
“But just always to be ready. You never know how it looks, how we’re going to go about things. And guys have been good that way. Not happy, but they recognize what we’re doing.
Indeed, playoffs are no time for bruised egos, with an “all for one, one for all mentality” required.
Miller, for example, was a healthy scratch for six games in the first round against St. Louis but now finds himself with a golden opportunity.
“Obviously, we’re a team in here, we’ve been a team all year, there’s been guys that have gone up and down in the lineup and injuries and all kinds of things, and stuff like that’s going to happen this year so step up when you can,” he said.
“I think we have a deep group here. Just make sure you’re ready and then when you get called upon, try and take advantage.”
Indeed, the Jets will have five healthy scratches tonight who have already appeared in playoff games this spring: Schenn and Stanley on the blue line, and forwards Jaret Anderson-Dolan, David Gustafsson and Dominic Toninato.
I like keeping Miller and Fleury in the lineup. They both bring mobility and puck-moving skills which are required against a team like Dallas, which doesn’t play nearly as heavy as the Blues did.
Connor Hellebuyck looked like himself in Game 1 against the Stars. (Fred Greenslade / The Canadian Press)
KEN SAYS: The goalie battle lived up to the hype in Game 1, with Connor Hellebuyck looking like himself.
Of the three goals to beat him, one came on a rebound after Hellbuyck stopped a one-timer from a sharp angle, one came on a perfect redirection by Rantanen and the other came when the Finnish forward caromed a pass for Roope Hintz in off the skate of Jets defenceman Dylan Samberg on the power play.
Hellebuyck was sharp early as the Jets gave up the first eight shots on goal and he did his part to build on his strong finish to Game 7.
As for Jake Oettinger, he required a save from Stars defenceman Esa Lindell to prevent Game 1 from going to overtime, but was rock-solid in making 30 saves.
The duel between American goaltenders will continue to be a storyline throughout this series.
Special teams are always important at this time of year and it was in Game 1, with the Stars going one-for-two with the man-advantage and the Jets going zero-for-four.
That leaves the Jets at five-for-26 in the postseason (19.2 per cent efficiency) and that’s an area they will be looking to improve.
Four of the five players on the unit have missed time in these playoffs, so that’s a factor, but with the continuity back in play, you can expect the power play to try and build on a strong finish to the first-round series with the Blues.
Jets sniper Kyle Connor continues to be a dangerous player, but it’s still hard to believe that his last power-play goal came on Dec. 23 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, a span of 53 games now.
Both Gabe Vilardi (four games) and Nikolaj Ehlers (three games) are progressing as they work their way back from injuries.
Vilardi had five shots on goal and nine shot attempts in the opener, while Ehlers had two shots on goal and seven shot attempts.
Vilardi has recorded one assist, while Ehlers has been limited to his helper on the Cole Perfetti marker that tied Game 7 with 2.2 seconds to go in regulation.
Both Vilaradi and Ehlers seem to be on the verge of an offensive eruption.
For Ehlers, he’s well aware that his playoff numbers haven’t matched his regular-season dominance.
In 40 playoff games, he’s been held to four goals and 15 points, but Ehlers is someone who can be a game-breaker when he uses his speed to make life difficult on his opponents.
For the Stars, Jason Robertson was shaking off the rust in Game 1 (with one shot on goal in just under 14 minutes of ice time after missing the previous seven games), but he figures to be better the more he plays.
Another thing about the opener that stood out was that it was a rare quiet evening for both Hintz and Wyatt Johnston.
Hintz was hit twice by Jets captain Adam Lowry on their first shift out against one another. Hintz had an assist on the power-play marker by Rantanen but he’s someone who you will likely notice more in Game 2.
Johnston delivered the game-winning goal in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche and you can expect him to be a bit more involved offensively in this one as well.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Tanev-Barron-Iafallo
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Fleury-Miller
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Schenn, D Stanley, D Heinola, C Kupari, C Gustafsson, C Toninato, F Anderson-Dolan, G Driedger
INJURED: None
DALLAS STARS
FORWARDS:
- Granlund-Hintz-Rantanen
- Robertson-Johnston-Marchment
- Benn-Duchene-Seguin
- Back-Steel-Dadonov
DEFENCE:
- Harley-Lyubushkin
- Lindell-Ceci
- Bichsel-Petrovic
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Dumba, D Smith, C Bourque
INJURED: D Heiskanen (knee), F Blackwell (undisclosed), D Lundqvist (shoulder)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on Gabe Vilardi, who returned from a 17-game injury absence to jump right into Game 5 of the St. Louis series and has one assist through four playoff games:
“You know what, just him getting up to speed. I said to him, he was on a bicycle jumping on an Indy track that is going 200 miles an hour. It really was. Him going into Game (5), that was a big step.
“So, now he knows the pace, now he knows what’s coming. You see it. He’s more and more comfortable making plays, he’s holding onto pucks. Getting around that net.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken has an early notebook coming which looks at the expected return of Josh Morrissey to the lineup, while Mike will have game analysis of Jets vs Stars. Ken will also author a post-game column.
You can find our stories online tonight and in Saturday’s print edition.
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