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SUNRISE — The Winnipeg Jets have plenty to be thankful for these days, and they spent yesterday counting those blessing on the U.S. holiday down in sunny Florida. They’ve won four straight games, are 10-2-2 in the past 14 and are just two points out of first place in the Central Division.
Now, they’ve got their head coach back.
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The sight of Rick Bowness around the rink this morning was a most welcome development. “Bones” has returned after taking a leave of absence to be with his wife, Judy, who suffered a seizure last month.
“She’s getting stronger every day and is about as good as we can expect at this point. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t comfortable leaving her for a couple of hours,” Bowness said following the morning skate.
Associate coach Scott Arniel, who many view as the obvious eventual successor to Bowness, helped guide the Jets to a 9-2-2 while serving as interim bench boss.
“Listen, our coaches did a fantastic job, they really did. They kept this team very, very well prepared,” said Bowness.“Everything that we put into place during training camp, they were staying on top of those details. They did a fantastic job, as have our players. This is not an easy thing for them as well. I give our players an awful lot of credit for staying dialled in and focused and playing as well as they have. Most importantly, it’s (Mark Chipman) and (Kevin Cheveldayoff), they allowed me to take the time to be with Judy and we wouldn’t have made it without their support.”The Jets are facing a red-hot Florida Panthers club, so tonight should be another good test. Winnipeg passed a similar one with flying colours on Wednesday night when Adam Lowry scored in overtime in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning to start the three-game road trip which ends Sunday in Nashville.
This is the final meeting of the year between the clubs, with the Jets beating the Panthers 6-4 in their home opener back on Oct. 14.
Connor Hellebuyck vs. Sergei Bobrovsky is your goaltending match-up.
Here’s some other details to get you set:
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: You’d expect the Jets to get an emotional boost from the return of Bowness, who is beloved by the organization. Throw in the fact the team is flying high these days and Gabriel Vilardi is on the cusp of returning from injury (he shed his non-contact at the morning skate today and could be an option as early as Sunday), and no doubt the joy level is quite high.
Teams often talk about needing their stars to shine and their leaders to lead, so how about the fact that in Wednesday’s victory, all three guys who wear a letter on their sweater — alternate captains Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey and captain Adam Lowry — lit the lamp. That’ll do it.
The Winnipeg Jets have won four straight games, are 10-2-2 in the past 14 and are just two points out of first place in the Central Division. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files)
I find these “Black Friday” games are often a bit of an anomaly in terms of structure — I still remember Jets defenceman Nate Schmidt joking a couple years ago down in Minnesota that he hoped he didn’t “leak gravy” all over the ice — so part of me wonders if we’re in for one of those wild and wacky wide-open games that fans love but coaches hate. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, a snooze-fest where both teams look like they are still in food comas.
Fun fact: Winnipeg is a perfect 3-0-0 against Florida with former coach Paul Maurice behind the bench. Can they make it a second straight season series sweep?
KEN SAYS: Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck has been back to Vezina Trophy form, the latest example coming in his 29-save effort against the Lightning. He’s set to make his 15th start in 19 games and he’s posted a save percentage north of .909 in five of his past six starts (including a .939 on Wednesday) to move him to .900 on the season.Keep an eye on Scheifele, who has nine goals and 18 points in 17 career games against the Panthers, who have shown no signs of the slow start that many Stanley Cup finalists have gotten off to in the past. Instead, they’re right in the heart of the race for second spot in the Atlantic Division, demonstrating a hunger to put together another long playoff run. The return of top C Aleksander Barkov figures to provide a boost for the Panthers, whose lineup will also feature a pair of D-men who were injured the last time these two teams went toe-to-toe in Brandon Montour and Aaron Ekblad.
Pending UFA F Sam Reinhart is off to a fantastic start, with 13 goals and 25 points in 19 points and he’s right in the thick of the battle for the Rocket Richard Trophy with Jets left-winger Kyle Connor (14 goals). Reinhart has six goals and 14 points in 15 career games against the Jets.
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