FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: ‘Twas the game before Christmas and all bets are typically off when it comes to predicting how it might play out. Yes, these are highly-skilled and highly-paid professional athletes. But they are also human beings who have places to go and people to see the second the final buzzer sounds and the brief holiday break begins. Just like we might all be a wee bit distracted during this busy time of year, it would only be natural for hockey players to be as well. All of which is to say expect the unexpected. A forgettable snoozer? A thrilling shootout? Nothing would surprise me.
It does strike me as a little odd that what should be a marquee prime-time matchup on national television between two Canadian hockey heavyweights is actually a Monday matinee on a regional channel while the majority of fans will be busy doing other things. Question for the NHL schedule maker: Huh?!
Of course, if both these teams go where they think they can, maybe we’ll be watching them battle each other on the biggest stage of all late next spring.
Folks, from my family to yours, wishing you a very Merry Christmas. I hope the holidays bring you plenty of peace, comfort and joy.
KEN SAYS: It was an evening for slump-busting on Saturday as Barron snapped a 15-game drought and Perfetti ended a stretch of 10 games without bulging the twine. Barron scored 11 goals last season, so moving to three as the season approaches its midway point was probably a welcome relief. As for Perfetti, he’s elevated his game of late and it seemed like a matter of time before he scored again. He’s up to seven for the season and his three points moved him to 23 in 35 games.
Ehlers became the fifth member of the Jets to reach double digits in goals, using a sneak attack from down low on the power play to beat Jesper Wallstedt. As the Jets’ red-hot power play continues to evolve, Ehlers establishing himself as a shooting threat down low rather than only in the pop position in the slot is another wrinkle that opponents will have to respect.
“Having Fly on the goal line and me on the other goal line kind of creates a different dynamic,” said Vilardi. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily what you want all the time. Ideally you want to have a guy in the pop spot. But I think with him on the goal line and me on the other side it kind of gives penalty killers something else to worry about. So, it’s a good look and we’ve got to keep adding different looks like that that keeps teams kind of guessing.”
The goal from Namestnikov moved him to nine goals, which leaves him tied with Lowry for sixth on the team, so there could be a couple more Jets into double digits before 2025 arrives.
John Tavares scored a pair of goals for the Maple Leafs in the first meeting of the season with the Jets and he’s done an excellent job after ceding the captaincy to Matthews and shifting to an alternate captain.
Mitch Marner, who is a pending unrestricted free agent, has been driving the Maple Leafs offence this season and leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 45 points in 34 games, while William Nylander leads them in goals (23) and has delivered seven points during the past three games to move him to 38 for the season.
Former Manitoba Moose D-man Chris Tanev has fit in tremendously since he was signed by GM Brad Treliving as an unrestricted free agent. Tanev has helped change the complexion of a Maple Leafs D-corps that was looking to be tougher to play against.
As Mike mentioned earlier, I’m also wishing you and yours all the best during the holiday season.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Perfetti-Namestnikov-Ehlers
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Appleton
- Barron-Kupari-Iafallo
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-Pionk
- Fleury-DeMelo
- Heinola-Miller
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: F Gustafsson
INJURED: D Samberg (broken foot), D Stanley (foot)
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
FORWARDS:
- Knies-Matthews/Kampf-Nylander
- McCann-Tavares-Marnmer
- Pacioretty-Domi-Robertson
- Lorentz-Dewar-Reaves
DEFENCE:
- Rielly-Timmins
- McCabe-Tanev
- Benoit-Ekman-Larsson
GOAL:
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Myers, F Holmberg
INJURED: G Stolarz (knee), C Matthews (undisclosed), F Jarnkrok (groin, sports hernia).
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets head coach Scott Arniel on what he’s seeing from Ville Heinola, who will play his 10th game of the season on Monday after returning from an ankle injury:
“It’s still a progression. He’s missed a lot of hockey in the last year and a half. At this level, playing against the NHL speed and size, it’s still an adjustment for him. Every game, he’s getting better and every game he’s realizing how he has to use his body, his stick, his positioning, his feet. Those are all things that are gradually coming back. The more he plays, the more he gets himself into those positions, he recogizes them and he’s better each game.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken is in Toronto and will be reporting on the final game for the Jets before the holiday break arrives. That story will appear in Tuesday’s print edition and online at winnipegfreepress.com. Plus, a friendly reminder that the monthly mailbag is open for a few more days, so send Ken and Mike your Jets questions for the story that will appear on Dec. 29.
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